Date: Sun, Jan 28, 2018 at 8:49 AM
Subject: Asheville Road Project: Merrimon Avenue
To: chood@ncdot.gov
Hello, please consider making Merrimon a ‘complete street’ with room for cyclists and proper sidewalks.
This road is currently scary and dangerous. I live about 2 blocks from Merrimon in the Grace neighborhood. From my house, I have to navigate through neighborhood streets looking for a safe place to cross Merrimon. Even with a traffic light, I don’t feel safe as many people are driving so fast, that they miss light changes and run the red light.
Perhaps the most dangerous behavior is the last-minute swerve that drivers do when someone stops to turn left in the inner lane. This knee-jerk reaction causes them to turn at speed intoFrom my house, I have to navigate through neighborhood streets looking for a safe place to cross Merrimon a lane they can’t fully see while trying to look backwards and avoid hitting a car approaching from behind. What happens to the cyclist riding just ahead of the stopped car?
Also, I was walking home from work downtown last week and discovered a section of sidewalk that is simply missing for 300 yds (by WT Weaver). This meant I had to cross the road (no crosswalk) and then cross back again a half mile later. Who is this road designed for?
Please consider making this road safe for bicyclists and pedestrians while increasing potential customer traffic to shops so that more businesses can thrive here. We need a ‘Complete Street’.
Thanks for your consideration,
Jeremy Poore
Grace Neighborhood
Asheville, NC