Don't Tell Us When To Drive!

Dear Mayor Greg Nickels,

    This is perhaps the dumbest idea that I have ever heard of. 

    Sincerely,

    Kiera The Traffic Chic

If you haven't heard, Seattle's Mayor thinks that it is a good idea to close some random streets in the months of August and September and make them car free.  No, there is no major rood construction scheduled.  No, there is no big parade going down the roads.  No, it's not a run or race for charity.  No, it's just a really stupid idea to help "green up Seattle".  The streets that have been picked will be closed to cars, but open to walking, bicycling and skating.

Well, that's just great.  Let's just force all of the businesses on these roads to lose their revenue for the day.  Let's just give a big "f" you to all of the people who live in these neighborhoods who will have to park away from and  walk to their homes.  Let's tack extra commute time onto everyone who actually works on a Sunday in these areas...including myself.  Are you going to refund the money that will be lost?  Are you going to pay me for the extra time that it will take me to get to work?  Of course you're not.  You're going to sit back in your posh home which sits on a road that will be OPEN and feel good about yourself because you're helping to save the world.  I'm sorry, but you just can't tell people when and where they can and can't drive.

So, will you be affected?  Here are the select neighborhood streets that will be closed.

• On Aug. 24, 14th Avenue East will be closed from East Republican Street to Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill from noon to 6 p.m. The park's Western Loop will also be car-free.
• Rainier Avenue South will be closed between Orcas and Alaska streets on Aug. 31 from 3-6 p.m.
• Alki Avenue in West Seattle will be closed to motor vehicles from noon to 6 p.m on Sept. 7

Plan ahead folks.  Then thank the Mayor for making your choices for you.