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Shifting vehicle traffic would stop these tragedies

Shifting vehicle traffic would stop these tragedies

How many vehicular tragedies must there be before everyone realizes just how dangerous it is for drivers to be on city streets? I know that’s not a popular opinion in the Post-Gazette letters to the editor, but if the tragedy surrounding Susan Hicks (“Woman Killed in Bicycle-Car Accident in Oakland,” Oct. 23) and the married couple (“Two Pedestrians Killed in Hill District Crash Involving Port Authority Bus, Second Vehicle,” Oct. 26) don’t come as warnings, then how many more deaths must it take?

No, dedicated bicycle lanes are not the answer. Drivers are so numerous in and around the city, and these unfortunate events can happen even to someone in a dedicated lane. Vehicular traffic must be contained to high-speed roads that were designed for them.

These vehicles are so powerful that even a “good driver” in “good conditions” can still “lose control.” This isn’t losing control of something small; it’s control of a 2-ton piece of metal. When clashes between pedestrians and vehicles occur, death might not always result, but it’s more likely than walking away unscathed.

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Adding dedicated bicycle lanes cuts down on auto lanes and does cut down on the number of cars, but the removal of automotive lanes needs to be priority. After all, people who live and work within city limits should be prioritized above those impatient commuters living outside our jurisdiction.

Should it be this way? Yes. After all, what is more human than going for a walk, or powering yourself at a natural speed? We don’t live in a world where things always are as they should be, but we can move in that direction.

Drive your car to the Laurel Highlands and in the suburbs if you enjoy it that much. It’s a luxury that weighs down on the poor, not a primary form of transportation. If we could get more people to realize this, then maybe we’ll have fewer tragedies and happier, healthier people around Pittsburgh.

PHILIP KRECKEL
Oakland

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First Published: November 9, 2015, 5:00 a.m.

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