Q: If you could name the foremost problem of the roadways today (on a city, county or statewide scale) and come up with a single project to put in place tomorrow, what would it be? —encore’s Facebook Fan Page

Michele Seidman
wrote on June 23rd, 2009, at 9:43am
Congestion, fuel consumption and frustrations are huge now. We need to get back to clean, reliable and efficient pubic transport. At one time there were electric trolleys starting to line streets all over this country, but thanks to certain bus manufacturers and a few others who wanted to line their own pockets in sales, there was a push to do away with the trolleys.

If I could do only one thing, it would be to create mass public transport that does not cost huge losses to run (i.e. fuel cost, environmental damage) and is reliable and efficient to use (to ease congestion on the roads, and save people time and money). It was working long ago. One only needs to do some research to see what really killed good public transport.

Arthur Shuey
wrote on June 23rd, 2009, at 9:45am
Miami gutter bike lanes. Where bike lanes exist, and where the drivers share the road and obey the laws, we’re in bicyclist Heaven here. Two major thoroughfares, however, Market Street and Carolina Beach Road, are impossible to navigate by bike. Sixteenth and 17th streets, leading to and from some of our area’s biggest employers, have rain drains that are sunken down in the center, so that they have to be ridden around instead of over. Throw in some more “Share the Road” signs for motorists, and we will be prepared for the next gas crunch and the “new normal.”

Doug Pendergrass
wrote on June 23rd, 2009, at 9:59am
After experiencing a near hit yesterday upon entering Dow Road in Carolina Beach, I think a pretty strong argument could be made for establishing mandatory bicycle paths along all major arteries. In my instance a pick-up truck was passing a bicyclist and so Ihad crossed over the center lane, just as I was making a right turn on to the road and found myself heading right toward him. I slammed on the brake, and he swerved back in his lane just in time. Phew. So there’s that danger which would be remedied. Not having to “share the road.”

Additionally, I think standardizing bike paths along “car paths” would encourage more people to choose bikes as a primary means of transportation, and that saves on fuel costs. The only energy you burn are calories and fat. Burning those is good for your health. And, except for the added CO2 you exhaust, it’s better for the environment.

Hell, I think I just convinced myself to go buy a bike!

Michal Wisniowski
wrote on June 23rd, 2009, at 5:36pm
I wholeheartedly agree about better public transit and bike-friendly roads. But if I had to pick one, I would go for bike lanes all around town. Some roads in our area don’t even have a shoulder, such as most of Carolina Beach Road. Combine that with 45 and 55 mph speed limits around town, and biking around here seems more like a death wish.

I personally would rather bike than ride a bus, but neither option is particularly appealing through much of the Wilmington area.

* * *

This week's question: If you could change just one thing about the Constitution, what would it be?

Answer on encore’s Facebook fan page, under discussion tab, or blog about it at encore café, www.encorepub.com. Happy Independence Day!