Hello,
My name is Kelsey Dunn. I am a second-year joint JD/MS student at Stanford University and currently live in Menlo Park. I am writing in support of Middle Complete Streets Option 1. Removing parking from both sides of Middle Avenue would make biking to campus feel much safer. Currently, I have to ride in the "parking" areas on either side of the street, which creates unsafe conditions when I have to move into the street to avoid parked cars, or when cars pull in front of me to park. I support removing the parking areas from both sides of the street to avoid these conditions on both parts of the commute to and from campus, and to avoid creating additional issues related to "dooring" when people hit bikers as they exit their cars.
I would additionally like to submit my support and recommendation for further consideration of expanding safe bikeways throughout Menlo Park, especially along commuter streets. University Drive is particularly concerning, especially north of Santa Cruz, where there are no bike lanes but a lot of stop-and-go traffic and turning cars. I have also noticed a consistent issue with residents placing recycling and trash bins in the bike lanes along the university—a policy preventing this practice, creating different solutions, or enforcing existing policies, would make the commute much safer for bikers and drivers.
Thank you for your consideration and for your efforts to make Menlo Park a safer place to live!
Sincerely,
Kelsey Dunn
JD-MS Candidate, Class of 2024
Stanford Law School | Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
she/her
