[Critique Group 1] Leonard's comments on Martia's sub

[leonard tuchyner]

I can’t find any flaws in your writing.

I am  in agreement with the content.

Awareness and  curtesy would be the most important recommendations.

Good luck on that one.

The one Part I have trouble with is the silence of the EV’s.

Our ecology should take precedence over all else.

If not, we won’t hae a livable world for anyone.

It would be relatively easy to rectify the quietude.



Too many to mention.

Personal responsibility has the potential to handle all else. But, as
I said, good luck on that one.


These days, the buzz is all about electric vehicles, bicycles, and
scooters powered by rechargeable batteries. Operators may feel warm
and fuzzy about doing their part to save our planet from climate
change, but what about the safety of non-motorists and PEDESTRIANS
like me?



Navigating the walkways with my four-legged guide dog for the blind,
my access to public transit, recreation, employment, and commerce is
frequently compromised by the electric vehicles silently humming by.



Consider the driver waiting to turn right on red, their attention
tuned to the left for oncoming traffic, their vehicle’s electric
engine idling at a whisper, while I stand at the corner trying to
gauge when it’s safe to cross the street. Does the driver see me?
Probably not. Can I hear the EV? Likely not. Which one of us has the
right-of-way? The 4,000-pound electric vehicle will win the bet every
time.



Pedestrian traffic fatalities have reached their highest level in 40
years, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. The
greater body weight of SUV’s and EV’s combined with
dangerous/distracted driving and roadways designed for speed
contribute to the rising death rate.



At the other end of the spectrum, E-scooters are lightweight, but the
Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that these quiet and quick
mobility devices may be difficult to detect. I’m not opposed to
alternative modes of transportation, but the use of E-scooters
shouldn’t trump my access to pedestrian walkways. At least six times
in six weeks, my guide dog and I have encountered E-scooters abandoned
haphazardly, blocking sidewalks and driveways, posing a dangerous
tripping hazard.



Currently, the scooter sharing company Lime is authorized to operate
in Colorado Springs under a pilot program.  According to the city’s
website, e-scooters must be parked upright, out of the way of
pedestrian and vehicle traffic, but how is that policy enforced?



Unfortunately, retrieval of illegally parked E-scooters relies on a
reporting system that requires days for complaints to be processed.
Violations resulting in injuries have already resulted in E-scooters
being banned in some larger cities. If you believe E-scooters have a
home in our community, please keep them off the sidewalks.



Cyclists and skateboarders also pose a risk to pedestrians.
Skateboarders on crowded downtown sidewalks should dismount rather
than dodge pedestrians like they’re competing on an obstacle course.
It’s the policy, but compliance relies on personal responsibility.



Multi-use trails are common in our city. Trekking with my guide dog on
the trails, I encounter bicycles approaching from ahead and behind,
from the left and the right. Often, I am startled by a silent cyclist
whizzing by, sometimes with only inches to spare, my hair lifted by
their tail wind. It’s dangerous, not to mention rude.



How about some trail etiquette? The National Park Service advises
hikers and cyclists to “treat others the way you would want to be
treated.” When approaching fellow trail travelers, calmly announce
your presence and intentions, “Passing on your right,” for example.



Some cyclists have told me they’re wary of distracting me and my guide
dog by calling attention to themselves. They have surprised children
on bicycles, resulting in an accident. Fair Enough, but I am not a
child and my guide dog is trained to move me out of harm’s way. We
prefer an audible alert to help keep us oriented.



While we’re on the subject, neighbors, we’d be grateful if you’d trim
your low-hanging or overgrown branches that impede pedestrian
walkways. Often, my guide dog steers me into the street because the
sidewalks are impassable. Even worse, people in wheelchairs could tip
if forced off the sidewalk.



Although I can’t drive, ambling the sidewalks and trails with my guide
dog qualifies as the best part of my day. However, a fall or collision
at my age could prove to be a game-changer. Please, be considerate of
non-motorists who navigate the walkways in our fine city.



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