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.