Re: Bayshore traffic perils not the worst, Feb. 20.
I enjoyed your article about Bayshore Boulevard. You made a great point that there are other more dangerous places in Tampa. But let's try to bring some sanity to the Bayshore Boulevard fiasco.
It is very unfortunate that another life has been lost on Bayshore Boulevard but let's not have a knee-jerk reaction in an effort to make a public relations statement.
I have heard of several proposed remedies to the "problems" on Bayshore Boulevard, including: speed bumps, signs, speed traps, decreasing the speed limit, more pedestrian crossings, more traffic lights, a pedestrian overpass, fewer lanes and a stop sign every half-mile.
Enforcing the speed limit is fine but anything that impedes traffic is not a solution, such as stop signs, traffic lights, speed bumps, lane closures, etc. As for a pedestrian overpass? Too ugly!
Let us not forget that Bayshore Boulevard is a road, not a park or exercise facility, and its primary function is to provide a means for traffic to get from Gandy to downtown.
It is the pedestrian's responsibility to safely cross the street. People crossing this street need to exercise caution, as with any street crossing.
I live on Bayshore Boulevard and drive on it and exercise along it every day. I cross Bayshore on foot, on my bicycle, and on Rollerblades. Sometimes I have to wait 30 seconds (big deal) or more to safely cross - a skill I learned at age 4. Crossing the street is not the problem!
Someone suggested making the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway toll-free to divert traffic from Bayshore. I'm sure that would be very effective but probably cannot be done.
So let's enforce the current speed limit, but do not impede traffic with traffic lights or stop signs.
