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# Columnist doesn’t see it clearly
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/columnist-doesnt-see-it-clearly-editor/
- Published: 2002-10-07T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:46:35.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Montana, #archive-import

*By Kevin McKeown Mayor Pro Tem Santa Monica*

In Friday’s “As I See It” column, Bill Bauer seriously confused pedestrian safety with traffic calming. They’re not at all the same thing.

It was my accomplishments for pedestrian safety I spoke proudly about at last week’s Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce luncheon. I advocated for the recent improvements on Montana Avenue, including more new visible crosswalks, curb extensions to shorten the crossing for children and the elderly and embedded flashing lights at a particularly dangerous crossing.

Bill’s history is confused as well. I did not narrow Montana Avenue. It changed from four lanes to two lanes a number of years ago, while I was still on the board of the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition. As a resident living less than a block south of Montana, I actually opposed the city on that change — until after it was completed, and I was convinced by the reality of a better, friendlier street.

Yes, traffic in Santa Monica continues to increase, but we cannot just surrender to ever more cars, letting our streets become unsafe for pedestrians, particularly seniors and children.

I know Bill has long disagreed with me on pedestrian safety, but I’m sure your paper remains committed to getting the facts straight.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 7, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/100702.pdf?ref=smdp.com)