2b. Harwood bike & pedestrian path-comment letter

Harwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing Study - 2007 c.f& Baseball uses a field in our neighborhood (west of overpass) and a field near the school (east of overpass) for games and practice which the kids could cross on their own if there were a bike path. Soccer practices are held in our park and half of the kids are from the other side of Harwood. ~ The community center hosts boy/girl scout programs. So we need to cross the bridge. ~ My children are 7 and 10 yrs old, with those sem i trucks crossing constantly 1 am scared to bike across. (.1& As a family we have crossed the bridge on our bikes to visit friends on the east side. 1 think I held my breath the entire way across that bridge with three children 9, 7 and 2 yr old. (.1& After School programs are reduced because children are not allowed to ride their bike. ~ 1 will not let my children walk across that bridge without a better barrier. ef6 The west side of Harwood (Rivertree Park) is primarily a younger neighborhood with so many kids. This (bike/pedestrian facility on the overpass) would be such an asset to out community. ~ We have no paved sidewalks on the Westside of 1-29 which is dangerous for small children. ~ Our children are unable to cross without one of us (parents) being present to help them cross. The sidewalks are uneven and the traffic does not yield. ~ The mornings and the early evenings are a main concern with walkers and bikers over the bridge because of the strong glare of the sun. It is a major safety concern. ~ A community growing means more vehicle traffic ~ Next to the school is a gas and stop & go store. Very much needed but also brings in a lot of highway traffic. ~ The 1-29 overpass is way too dangerous to let children pass on foot or bicycle. The bridge is on a truck route used by all the local gravel and concrete companies. ef6 We need a bridge for the children before someone dies. Fargo - Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments - 25 -