Letters to the Editor 05/09/2012

To the Editor:

Looking out my patio door, watching orange flags wave in the breeze, I have some questions concerning the proposed 14-foot-path (10-foot paved road with two feet of gravel on either side) behind the Tollgate neighborhood.

Why weren't all of the Tollgate residents advised of this pathway's route and its proximity to homes? Deschutes County does an excellent job of informing neighborhoods of building which affects their property. If it hadn't been for a letter to The Nugget, I would have had no idea that comments could be sent to the USFS. Why were we not permitted to give our input prior to the route being determined? It seems logical that we are the most affected by this trail and our opinions are important.

Why does the Sisters Trails Alliance have the influence and power to determine where and when these trails are to be built?

It appears to me a minority, consisting mainly of bicyclists and hikers, have decided every destination in Central Oregon needs a 10-foot-wide paved path through the woods, ignoring the fact that the taxpayers have spent millions for bicycle lanes along highways and in town. We have hungry children, schools that could use additional funding, roads in need of repair. A bicycle path benefiting a small segment of society does not seem to be a judicious use of our money or charity.

I attended the Tollgate meeting on April 23, and the answers to questions I raised were either not fully answered or were passed over.

Steve and Judy Madsen

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To the Editor:

On the surface, the proposed Sisters-Black Butte Ranch multi-use path that will stretch between the Sisters McDonald's and Black Butte Ranch sounds like a can't miss, feels-good-to-be-for-it type of endeavor. However, when the surface is asphalt, and the plan is to slather said surface through our shrinking forestland at a cost that could easily exceed one million dollars, one must give pause.

The Sisters-Black Butte Ranch Paved Path calls for a two-pronged approach:

Pave over existing multi-use dirt trails. However, it is estimated that the 10-foot-wide asphalt path will require two-foot shoulders on either side of the path. So where the existing trail is less than 14 feet wide, additional forest space will be permanently eliminated. (Having walked, run and ridden on parts of these trails hundreds of times, there is no question that trees will be lost to accommodate the proposed asphalt swath.)

Where a trail does not already exist, the Sisters-Black Butte Ranch Paved Path will be constructed by paving over existing, previously undisturbed natural forestland and habitat.

When you are surrounded by something, even if it is spectacular, it is very tempting to take it for granted. We, the residents of Sisters, should be very wary of becoming complacent when it comes to preserving our area's natural beauty. Once it's gone, it's gone. Having lived in other parts of the country, I can tell you that many people will get in their cars and drive for quite a distance in order to experience the simple joy of walking, running or cycling on good old terra firma.

Our area is beautiful and unique. But, like all places, we are not perfect and are wanting in many ways. One thing we don't need, however, is less forest and more asphalt.

Greg Werts

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To the Editor:

People don't seem to be informed of the law pertaining to disabled parking permits. A disabled person may use the permit placard when he or she is actually getting out of the car. No, you cannot run errands for your father in the car and zip in and out of stores using a disabled parking permit. It's the same as using it when he stays home. It's illegal, and very inconsiderate of those persons who actually need the space. 

This morning I witnessed a white Mercedes at the grocery store parked in a disabled space. Yes, they had a placard plainly displayed in the window. A young woman popped out of the car and went into the store while an older gentleman stayed sitting in the passenger seat. Now I admit it is possible she has an "invisible" disability, such as a heart condition, emphysema or arthritis. But I doubt it. I see this all the time and I'm hoping people are just unaware. 

And while we're on the subject, you also cannot park in the striped area next to a disabled space. That is access for the person getting in and out of the car. It is particularly important for persons using vans with a ramp to exit the car.

Unlawful use of a disabled person parking permit is a Class C traffic violation and subject to a fine up to $180. For more information visit http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/811.625.

Thanks to technology there is now a disabled parking violations app for smart phones. I haven't used it yet, but apparently I can take a photo of the offending vehicle and hit send. One of these days I'll have to try it out.

Mary Anne Woodell

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To the Editor:

I don't understand why our city has allowed this back-in parking thing. (No voting for this by Sisters people.) Why did we have to bargain with them to do this? Yes, we got a grant but... back-in parking?

I would like to know how many cities in Oregon do this? Every one I talked to have never heard of it and ask "WHY?" (Will horses have to back in too? Yea! Then they can poop on the sidewalk.)

We may have to get used to it in time, but we are a tourist town or did we forget? Have you looked at some of the trucks and see how much overhang they have in the rear, over the sidewalk? Our tourists get to smell the exhaust fumes as they walk though our fresh air of Central Oregon, reminding them of the big city. Is this why we put in nice little expensive square pavers two wide that extend from the curb to the sidewalk? Looks like we ran out of concrete. Oops.

You have to STOP in the street, and back up to park? Do we put on our blinker to back up or scare people to death behind us when we stop in the middle of the street and they see our backup lights on and back up? I don't think we will make other drivers very happy. ("Road rage" I believe is the term.) Do tourists know what we are doing?

(Do we?)

When we park the normal way we can pull straight in and see where we are going. When we back out we have a lot of space out on the road. How many people can even back up safely? I think I will open up an auto body shop for all the dings, dents and scratches on new cars.

Do you think tourists will stick around if they ding a car?

We have a few little old people that can barely turn their heads around let alone learn to use their mirrors to back up. I think we have just made our streets less safe for all instead of safer.

Be proud as we become known as Sisters, the Backward City of Central Oregon.

Progress is going forward, isn't it? Hmm.

That's my gripe and I'm sticking to it.

Dale Coats