Dear Editor,
Re: “Paving way to pandemonium?” Letters, May 10.
Thank you to long-time resident Mary Gurney for her excellent letter against paving the west dyke. This is an idea whose time has not come and should never come.
I am a long-time resident and use the west dyke daily. It is currently one of the jewels of Richmond and should not be destined to become a freeway for cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers.
It is peaceful, most of the time, and yet can be very busy with young families. Children learning to ride their bikes, groups of moms pushing baby buggies, seniors with walking sticks, dogs on long leashes wandering from side to side.
There is nature all around and beautiful scenery for the eye.
Occasionally, a motorized bike will zoom by. (not allowed, but it happens).
There are cyclists who appear to be racing they are travelling so fast. Many cyclists fail to ring a bike bell or give a verbal warning.
I have seen near misses several times. Paving the gravel path will only increase the number of cyclists flying along, at even higher speeds. The commuter cycling route already exists along Railway Avenue (the Greenway) and it is not overcrowded.
Alexa Loo, city councillors and Mr. John Irving, Richmond’s chief engineer, need to get out on the west dyke more often and they would see any idea of paving it should be reconsidered.
Save the rural and more natural feel of the gravel path for future generations.
Sandra Smith
Richmond
