Lakewood IS an Island

The new construction to create bike lanes and reduce traffic flow on Madison Avenue down to one lane each way has caused me to rejoice! To quote BikeLakewood (our hometown advocacy group) "A community where it is safe and convenient to ride a bike is a good place to live for everyone."  You cannot say that about Parma. Try riding a bike in Parma. Be sure your life insurance is up to date.  

Lakewood IS an island! Better yet, it is an oasis-- a lovely blue oasis in a red desert.

I sincerely dislike to disagree with Mr. Colin Dussault. My opinion of Colin is best summed up by Wayne and Garth when they were in the company of Alice Cooper. "WE'RE NOT WORTHY!!"

However, traffic on Detroit Road and Madison Avenue is not so bad that a little patience (to quote Guns N' Roses) won't suffice. Because otherwise, to take it a step further, imagine we keep Madison Avenue a four lane highway, increase the speed limit to 45 mph, and ban bicycle traffic. Would that help or hinder Madison Avenue businessess? Are Detroit Road businesses hurting because of traffic? Having spent three years as an over-the-road truck driver, I have to chuckle at Cleveland's perception of traffic. Where in Chicago, or Washington or New York one must wait an hour in traffic, here you must wait five minutes. Big deal!

To me, parking has always been a much larger issue, which is one reason that riding a bike here makes so much sense. One more person on a bike means one less car in traffic, one more freed up parking space.

Additionally, with regard to taking our business elsewhere, which is more convenient- riding a bike down to a store on Detroit or Madison or topping off the cargo van for a trip out to MegaMart? Maybe the merchandise is a little more expensive here in town but factor in the time and expense of travelling out of our fair city, only to fight the dangerous high-speed traffic of the far-flung suburbs! 

Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, is called 'the friendly confines' and that is exactly how I view Lakewood. The Madison on the Move Project will only enhance that feeling. Now, in the words of Freddie Mercury, "Get On Your Bikes and Ride!"