To the editor:
Whoever made the decision to add a two-lane bike lane on one of the busiest highways in the city of Lynn should be fired.
When I moved to Seaport Landing over twelve years ago, the police were always either in our driveway or the Porthole’s parking area to monitor the speed of cars.
Now that the road has been reduced from four lanes to two, we never see the police. I have seen them a couple of times when they put on their lights to protect one of the many cars that have crashed into the side of the barrier or even gone up on it. At night, it is very difficult to even see it. There are no reflectors or lights to see it.
The speed limit is posted at 35 MPH, but most cars are traveling 50-60. The only cars I have noticed traveling 35 MPH are the cars that are driving in that bike lane. Most of the bike riders are still using the sidewalk, which has always worked fine for walkers as well as riders.
When we try to enter or leave our complex, it is hazardous. We all live in fear that we will be rear-ended just trying to return to our homes. And if that is not bad enough, they are planning on planting trees in the islands. We can’t see how to exit now.
I know it is a state road, but can’t the city get involved in our plight? They have no problem collecting a huge amount of tax money from us. Our complex was never consulted. All we ever heard was that there would be a bike lane that might be on our property. We assumed they would take some of the grass area in front of the buildings.
If we try to enter or leave during rush-hour traffic, it takes forever, and we also have to look in both directions since the bike lane is a two-way path. All the cars returning home from Boston to Swampscott, Marblehead, or Nahant use that roadway. Traffic is non-stop for at least three hours every day, not to mention on the days that people are going to the beach all day long during good weather.
I did reach out to our ward councilor, Fred Hogan, who advised me to reach out to Sen. Sean Reid. He was at least able to get a representative from the DOT to come and see the problem. Hopefully, someone can help us.
Germaine (Geri) McManus
Seaport Landing
Lynn
