Comments on: Leggett: Pedestrian bridge is ‘proper solution’ to library access

By: Robin

Robin — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:37:02 +0000

“However I think it is sad that we are raising kids who are too scared to cross the street.”

I don’t think that’s a terrible problem for the moment. They are only kids; they should be afraid of fast moving cars.

As I’ve said before, while I don’t have a vested interest either way (I mean, I walk to the library now, I’ll walk to the library when the new one is built) I can see how the bridge would increase traffic to the library and help to control traffic at the intersection. Its not that I don’t like pedestrians, but heavy ped. traffic does make it difficult for cars to execute turns, and would make traffic at that intersection even worse. It also is a likely place for people to try to jay-walk. It’s a little scary for me sometimes with all the idiots who drive around here, I would also absolutely refuse if I was a mom with several kids, or an elderly person with a walker or cane, or someone in a wheelchair that traffic might not even see as easily.

And if we’re talking about it purely as a waste of money, then the new library is a waste of money, too. I mean, we already have a library. The bridge is an investment in making sure that this other big financial investment (the library) gets all the use it should to be worthwhile.

By: David

David — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:11:22 +0000

RE: “My sister has already told me that if there is no bridge she is not going to try and cross Wayne with a baby carriage and a 4 year old.”

I’m a parent of a three year old and a 17-month old and we cross at the intersection of Fenton and Wayne all the time. The intersection is very busy and you need to be vigilant and absolutely not try to jaywalk across (especially with kids). That said, using basic common sense greatly minimizes our risk at this intersection. If I were too afraid to walk across intersections in DTSS with my kids, we’d never leave the house, or worse, we’d drive everywhere.

By: JG

JG — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:08:54 +0000

“My sister has already told me that if there is no bridge she is not going to try and cross Wayne with a baby carriage and a 4 year old.”

I bet you’re right and I fear that many others will feel this way. However I think it is sad that we are raising kids who are too scared to cross the street. Should we build a bridge from the metro to the new Fillmore? I’m too scared to cross the road.

People need to live in the real world eventually, crossing the street isn’t the end of the world. This bridge is a huge waste of money, period.

By: carlos

carlos — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:02:41 +0000

Woodside Park Bob wrote:

“Why all the opposition to this bridge when as far as I know there wasn’t any opposition to the “double helix” bridge to be built between the two United Therapeutics buildings on either side of Cameron Street at Spring Street.”

Isn’t this bridge strictly for the employees use? I don’t have a problem with the library bridge i think you will increase library use with it. My sister has already told me that if there is no bridge she is not going to try and cross Wayne with a baby carriage and a 4 year old.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:06:47 +0000

I think the very vocal opposition to the bridge is due more to what the bridge represents than what it actually is. There’s little doubt that the bridge is symbolic of all that has and could go wrong in the design of downtown Silver Spring – it’s the embodiment of the urban planners’ desire to walk over the little man on the street. By building the bridge what are we saying? In essence, that certain classes of people are above others. Clearly the bridge will become the Berlin Wall of DTSS.

By: Glenn Kreger

Glenn Kreger — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:03:40 +0000

True, the public didn’t fund the bridge in the United Therapeutics project unlike the proposed Wayne Avenue bridge. U.T.’s bridge is also outside the urban renewal area. It is the approved Urban Renewal Plan which prohibits bridges like the proposed Wayne Avenue bridge. The County Council is considering an amendment to the Urban Renewal Pla to allow the proposed bridge between the library and Wayne Avenue garage.

By: Perry T,

Perry T, — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:48:08 +0000

Couldn’t agree more with most other responses. The bridge is a ridiculous idea and waste of money. Best comment of all–if Ike likes it–it must be wrong. How did we ever elect this idiot? Let’s remember this come next election time for county exec.

Isn’t it likely that the Unit Therapeutics bridge was built with the companies money not taxpayers and, of course, is not exactly in the middle of the downtown business district.

By: Glenn Kreger

Glenn Kreger — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:19:28 +0000

I believe that the United Therapeutics bridge was an entirely different situation, something to do with their desire to preserve a sterile connection between parts of their research facility. You should check with them.

Editor’s note: Glenn Kreger runs the community planning division with the county’s planning department. — JD (Jun 10, 2009)

By: Jennifer Deseo

Jennifer Deseo — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:05:07 +0000

Woodside Park Bob wrote:

“Why all the opposition to this bridge when as far as I know there wasn’t any opposition to the “double helix” bridge to be built between the two United Therapeutics buildings on either side of Cameron Street at Spring Street.”

That’s a damned good point. I don’t even have a reasonable response to that, other than to say that perhaps the United Therapeutics bridge shouldn’t be built, either.

By: Woodside Park Bob

Woodside Park Bob — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:51:47 +0000

Wow. I’m amazed at all the opposition to the bridge. It seems like a good idea to me. Anything that will increase the likelihood that people will use the library is a good idea. Plus, it seems to me that the bridge would increase access to Fenton Village by eliminating the need for people who park in the Wayne Avenue Garage to cross Wayne at street level. Anyone could simply cross the bridge and exit the library. Just because you go to the library doesn’t mean you can’t exit the library. And, by the way, why all the opposition to this bridge when as far as I know there wasn’t any opposition to the “double helix” bridge to be built between the two United Therapeutics buildings on either side of Cameron Street at Spring Street.