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Dr. Delay

You might as well get used to smaller parking spaces

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published May 22, 2005

The narrow lanes on First Avenue N have folks wondering how to safely navigate the newly-squeezed road. Others wonder what the story is with the new teeny, tiny little parking spaces painted on First. They are the perfect size if everyone were zipping around town in Mini Coopers, but drivers of larger vehicles are finding the spaces too tight to maneuver in and out of easily.

Some drivers have taken to parking their cars over the curb, and business owners say their customers fear for their safety trying to exit their cars once they have parked. Cars parked on the road are sitting ducks, some business owners told me.

Dr. Steven Bloom, who has a dental practice on First, told me that he's concerned about the safety of his employees and his patients.

"I have employees who have parked their cars there for 10 years without incident. Within hours of parking in the newly stripped spaces, one was side-swiped by motorists who kept going," Bloom said.

Bloom says the new spaces just don't accommodate the width of most cars, especially SUVs. The spaces are 7 to 8 feet wide - the width of many SUVs. When you factor in side view mirrors, there is no room to spare.

Thomas Gibson with the city traffic and engineering department told me that motorists need to get used to the narrow lanes.

"There's going to be a period of adjustment now that we are incorporating bike lanes," Gibson said, adding that making room for biking lanes is an objective of Mayor Rick Baker and the city, and plans are to provide such facilities citywide. Gibson said the city conducted tests some time ago with the 7- to 8-foot parking spaces, which are considered standard size, and results indicated that they will work. He noted that motorists have become accustomed to the old, roomier parking spaces, but he thinks the new spaces are functional.

Since so many of you have asked, it's time for another update on the Pinellas Bayway bridge, though, like the last update on the planned bridge construction project, there isn't much to report.

But here goes for those who missed the last update: The delay in construction is the result of a less than smooth bidding process. The design is complete and the budget has been established, but when the Florida Department of Transportation put the project out for bid last year, only one construction company submitted a bid. It was much higher than the amount the DOT had to spend.

The DOT rejected the bid and planned a second request for proposals. But the construction company filed a protest of the rejection of its bid, so the project is delayed while the legal wrangling runs its course.

I spoke with Kris Carson of the DOT, and she said that the administrative hearing is scheduled for later this month.

"That puts letting the project out for bid again sometime in 2006," Carson said.

Construction could begin sometime in the summer of 2006, but everything is subject to change, Carson said.

The Doc goofed last week. We had an e-mail from a guilt-ridden motorist who had inadvertently run the eastbound toll at Central Avenue that leads away from Treasure Island, and he wondered how to get himself out of hot water. I referred the motorist to the state Turnpike System to rectify the situation. Problem is, the state does not operate the toll plaza near the Treasure Island Causeway - the city of Treasure Island does.

Joanne Hurley of the state Turnpike System clarified: "The Pinellas Bayway System consists of a series of causeways and bridges providing a connection between St. Pete Beach, Fort De Soto Park and I-275. The system is approximately 15.2 miles in length and includes 1.3 miles of bridges."

The system does not include toll plazas owned by municipalities. The Treasure Island toll plaza is owned and operated by the city of Treasure Island, and toll workers are city employees.

And here's another bit of information: Folks who drive through the Treasure Island toll plaza and wave their SunPass are doing so to no avail. SunPasses are prepaid tolls for the state system. The Treasure Island toll plaza does not accept them. One exasperated toll plaza worker wrote to me that he deals with this issue every day and it's driving him nuts.

The toll workers are not alone in their exasperation. Motorist Paul Daugherty wrote: "Last week I was coming from Treasure Island to St. Pete and having a SunPass, I got in the pass lane. As I passed through, the attendant yelled at me, "You have to pay.' I pulled over onto the right of way and walked back to explain about the SunPass and was told that they are not a Florida turnpike toll, so I need to pay. The van that was behind me also had the SunPass and stopped but decided to drive on. The attendant said the van driver would get a ticket, so I paid for her too. While I was talking to her, three or four more people didn't pay. They should have a sign saying that the SunPass is not accepted."

Agreed.

The "Click It or Ticket" campaign will be in full force from Monday to June 5, which means local law enforcement will be on the lookout for unbuckled motorists. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that drivers and passengers who do not buckle up are approximately 14 times more likely to die in a traffic crash than those who use safety belts.

Since the Memorial Day holiday has been the deadliest in recent years with the highest recorded fatality rate per hour, now is the time to be extra diligent. The bottom line: Use your safety belt. It's the smart thing to do, and it's the law.

Until next week, happy and safe motoring!

Please share your traffic concerns, comments and questions with Dr. Delay via e-mail at docdelay@yahoo.com

[Last modified May 22, 2005, 01:06:16]