"Only more roads will improve traffic..." 'Glenn Mickens' (Special to dakinetalk blog)

Glenn Mickens has lived on Kauai  with his wife Ruth for the last 26 years. Born July 26, 1930 in Wilmar, California, USA) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in four games (two of which were starts) for the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers. He also played for five years in Japan, from 1959 until 1963 for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. There, he compiled a record of 45–53 with a 2.54 ERA.  Glenn also  served in the Army for 2 years and coached baseball at UCLA for 25 years. 
Last but not least Glenn would really like to see Kauai give the county manager style of Government a chance.

Mr. Mickens is locally known
as one of Kauai county's
political watchdogs
and Nitpickers...
Mahalos Glenn!

Only more roads will improve traffic

Bravo, Larry Bergh, bravo for your fine, truthful article in TGI 1/24, "Only more roads will improve the traffic flow on Kauai."  
(Read Larry's opinion article)
~Click on link below~
Let us know what you 
think of the traffic 
 situation on Kauai
in the commments section
of this blog or on Facebook?
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-jan/article_e7125b02-c263-11e5-953c-6bfd20e2aaaf.html

For years a group of us "Nitpickers" have been echoing the the very same words, thoughts and ideas that you bring up in your letter.

Does it really take engineers, planners or consultants at a cost of thousands of dollars to tell us that we need wider and alternate roads on Kauai to alleviate the traffic problems that have plagued us for so long?

As Mr Bergh so wisely states, "predictably every study (they) come up with offers the same suggestions: more buses, more sidewalks and more bike paths." In the 10 years he has lived here he has seen many recreational bicyclists on the narrow and dangerous roads outside of Lihue but, like Mr Bergh, I cannot imagine nor have I seen anyone in 26 years using these lanes except the very brave and ambitious Laurel Briar who pedals from Anahola to Lihue to work. 

And neither have I sees anyone using the newly developed bike lanes which would be extremely dangerous to use plus being entirely impractical for anyone to use for whatever reason. 

Yet our planners put more and more bike lanes in their long range plans but the question that screams for an answer is WHY---who is mandating that these paths be built when, as Councilman Kagawa asks, we narrow our roads (like the plans for Rice Street) and do nothing but worsen traffic.

We are being told by people who lack common sense to abandon our vehicles, disregard convenience and efficiency  and try alternative transportation but it will never happen.

At a recent Committee meeting the point was brought up by a member from a bike organization that these bike lanes are needed so people will get out of their vehicles and get more exercise. But the spokesman for this organization could not point out where, on an Island like ours, with a population like ours that this is successfully being done. 

Mr Bergh sums up his article with a fine statement, "It's time that the county bites the bullet and admits that what's really needed to relieve traffic congestion here on Kauai is the adding of more lanes to our current roads and the addition of of bypasses where they really do some good and actually be used." 

The contra-flo is successfully being used at peak traffic hours and it proves that with one more lane the contra-flo would not be needed.

Wasn't the Koloko Dam break that cut off north and south bound transportation evidence enough that we desperately need alternate roads not only to cure traffic problems but to offer people and emergency vehicles a way to move around on Kauai? Any accident or brush fire along our highway will stop traffic since there is no other route.

Citizens, Council Members, and Mayor please think about this: A professional, experienced Manager would be your aid, your tool to addressing the problems that Mr Bergh and letter after letter points out. There is no downside to trying this system since it is always reversible. But the proven upside is that problems will get solve and our county could restore millions of dollars in our depleted 
General fund by the efficiency put into our system.

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...

Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

P.S.
Check out Glenn's Wikipedia page;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Mickens

With all the stress of the world, don't forget to
watch the sunrise or sunset, it's free! 

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...