OPINION Navigating the slow lane

identify problematic areas. By sharing your experiences, you can help make Carbondale a safer place for everyone.

Highway 133

Mature Content

By Nancy Roen

For the past three years, at one time or another, I have navigated our town with crutches, poles, stationary and wheeled walkers, and at best, with unsteady steps. Right now, a neck injury is making street crossings difficult, because I cannot look right or left without turning my whole body. But moving more slowly through the days, seasons, rhythms and vibes of our town has also provided unexpected pleasure. I have come to appreciate how mostly walkable and accessible Carbondale is and how helpful and considerate most people are. I’m also more aware of the few inconsiderate people and of what doesn’t work well.

Pedestrians are all around us, as are kids on striders, preschoolers bobbing and weaving while learning to ride, strollers, (usually) leashed dogs, skaters, skateboarders, whizzing cyclists and startled wildlife making their way across busy human thoroughfares. Safety is a dance requiring constant awareness from everyone, scanning the terrain for the unexpected, slowing and ceding to one another. Distraction and impatience often lead to serious consequences. Safety measures help, but understanding each other's needs and taking care of each other can keep us much safer. Any system works better when people use it considerately.

The Carbondale Age-Friendly Community Initiative (CAFCI) has evaluated safety hazards related to traffic and is beginning its "Dangerous 133?" campaign. This summer, CAFCI will be asking for community input to

Letters

Waving the red flag

I’m with the Republicans on this one: no need for a national “red flag” law. I don’t trust the government. But, unlike the Republicans, I don’t think these things should be left to the states either. As a poet, I try to see things from the long view, and, as seen from space, this is clearly a species-level problem.

Red flag laws empower officials to temporarily take guns away from any “individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or to others.” These words make a pretty good working definition of the history and current status of Homo sapiens sapiens. So, the only question becomes: who are the officials who collect the guns?

I suggest humanity turns over all its weapons to the trees, perhaps to sequoias or bristlecone pines. These organisms are long-lived, mentally stable and rarely, if ever, act impetuously. And, even if, like us, they become intoxicated

Traffic lights at crosswalks, especially flashing ones, are often either ignored or approached too quickly by vehicles. I once pushed the button for the northeast crosswalk at the roundabout and was about to step down when three motorcycles abreast roared through just to pull into the gas station.

Crosswalks on the northwest and northeast roundabout corners are particularly unsafe, because cars come into the curve too fast. Walking west across 133 does not allow one to see the second car and has led to close calls caused by unseen cars speeding through the crosswalk.

Northbound vehicles approaching the flashing light at Hendrick Drive move fast, making it risky for cyclists, children going home after games and dog walkers heading to and from the park.

The Village Road light does not allow enough time for crossing by pedestrians from the bus station, visitors with heavy suitcases and backpacks or cyclists on the Rio Grande Trail. That crossing is particularly dangerous for residents from Heritage Park Care Center, just a block away.

In short, Highway 133 as a whole needs rethinking. Using the dedicated sidewalk along one side and the trail on the other is unpleasant, even intimidating. Delivery vehicles come close to curbs and walkways and large, fast-moving vehicles spewing pollution, causing wind shear and creating an unpleasant din. We need a much lower speed limit and traffic-calming strategies to make that road safer.

Eighth and Main

Heavy traffic comes through this intersection and crossing on foot is perilous, because pedestrians depend on vehicles to yield. I’ve seen many close calls there and experienced one myself. All vehicles were stopped at the by their own power, their lack of opposable thumbs provides a further safeguard.

Please contact your congressional representatives today and ask them to support my “Firearms to the Forest” initiative. It may be our last hope.

Tony Alcantara, Carbondale(ish)

Child care

Child care access continues to be an issue in the Roaring Fork Valley. I am fortunate to have spots for my children, but know so many families that struggle to find safe, reliable, quality child care in this community. Blue Lake and Little Blue Preschools are dedicated to making a difference for local families by expanding their programs in the community. Little Blue Preschool opened in 2015 and now seeks to expand and continue serving the families and kids in Carbondale. Unfortunately, they have come up against a number of intersection as I started walking in the southwest crosswalk with my walker and small dog. As I reached the middle of the street, a car coming west drove straight through the lane, barely missing my dog and walker. This problem might be mitigated with a crossing signal.

Rio Grande Trail

The Rio Grande Trail poses particular challenges and dangers. All manner of vehicles from bicycles, e-bikes, skateboards, skaters, strollers and the like require pedestrians to be on high alert. Cyclists often go too fast, failing to announce until the last second, if at all. This is startling not only to pedestrians but also to dogs, who may bolt, become entangled in their leashes and cause accidents. Cyclists riding abreast while conversing are especially problematic. All this could be mitigated if cyclists traveled more slowly inside town limits. Traffic-calming devices could be used to encourage cyclists to slow down.

Although Carbondale is a fairly walkable town, it is not always safe for people dealing with physical injuries or impairments or who just walk more slowly. The Town has committed to increasing and enhancing non-motorized transport. Although improvements won't happen overnight, attending to the most dangerous crossings along Highway 133 would be a good first step. Highway 133 is supposed to be a medium-speed highway, and it cuts our town in two. If we gave up our obsession with fast-moving motor vehicles, Highway 133 could become a pleasant boulevard joining old to new.

Mature Content is a monthly feature from the Carbondale AARP AgeFriendly Community Initiative (CAFCI). This article kicks off the public input part of our “Dangerous 133?” campaign. Look for us all summer at public events beginning First Friday, May 5, and visit us at www. agefriendlycarbondale.org hurdles during the rezoning process with the Town of Carbondale.

I am a parent of two children at Little Blue Preschool and I work three blocks away. Having the school located in the Town of Carbondale is the reason that I chose this school for my children. Not only is it near my work, but it is also within a community where they can walk to parks, go on walking field trips to local businesses and attractions, and be a part of the community they live in.

I grew up in the Roaring Fork Valley and have seen how the “urban sprawl” has changed our lifestyle. We get in the car to get groceries, go to eat, go to the bank, do practically anything. We go online to purchase clothing, schedule services, and conduct everyday chores. This is what has become normal instead of seeing a vibrant town center with people walking to parks, or going to an actual bank, going to the library, or to a continued on page 14

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Share the Love

As part of the 2022 Subaru Share the Love Event, Phil Long Glenwood Springs Subaru donated $15,500 to River Bridge Regional Center. This is the second year in a row that River Bridge was selected for their impact. The aid will help over 250 children receive supportive services and was made in recognition of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Moving on

Roaring Fork Schools Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gatlin announced his resignation, after 10 years with the district, effective May 26. Gatlin has accepted a similar position with Jeffco Public Schools. “I’ll miss all the amazing people who work hard every day to ensure our students will thrive,” he wrote. The job will be posted immediately.

Land use changes

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Garfield County has adopted new land use and development code text amendments to support housing availability. Among the changes, the maximum floor area of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is increased from 1,000 square feet to 1,200. Businesses with a lot size of one acre or more can now add ADUs as a use by right in the commercial general, commercial limited and industrial districts. Affordable unit developers are also eligible for waivers on traffic impact fees and building permits, and for incentives like density bonuses.

Meeting Place updates

The Meeting Place (981 Cowen Drive), providing peer support for overcoming addiction, now hosts Mindfulness in Recovery, led by John Bruna, in-person and online Tuesdays at 6pm. Overeaters Anonymous gathers on Wednesdays at 6pm. High Rockies Harm Reduction offers free fentanyl test strips, a syringe exchange, sterile using equipment and peer support at 4pm. Child care is also available for free during Saturday and Sunday morning meetings thanks to the SkiCo Caring for Community Fund. Learn more at www. meetingplacecarbondale.org

Health Fair

The Aspen Valley Hospital Health Fair is scheduled for June 1-4, with

The Carbondale Rotary Club awarded Thunder River Theatre Company (TRTC) with two checks totalling $13,954 to help pay for ADA-compliant dressing rooms for the Stage of Life Theatre Company, which recently relocated to the TRTC basement. The donation was made in honor of the late Wendy Moore, a past president of the club and Roaring Fork High School principal. Moore’s daughter and TRTC artistic director, Missy, received the check together with Executive Director Sean Jeffries. Photo by Raleigh Burleigh deeply discounted blood draws and testing. June 1-2 will occur in Aspen and June 3-4 will be hosted at the Eagle County Community Center in El Jebel. Participation is by appointment only, from 8 to 11:30am. Registration is open at aspenhospital.org/health-fair or by calling 800-217-5866.

Adopt-a-thon

Colorado Animal Rescue (CARE) is participating in the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters” adoption event, May 1-15. This follows a whole month of half-price adoption fees at CARE. Learn more at www.coloradoanimalrescue.org/ adoptable-pets

Meeker Mustang Makeover

The Bureau of Land Management will host the Meeker Mustang Makeover this Friday, April 28, from noon to 7pm, and Saturday, from 8am to 3:30pm, at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds. This year, 25 horse trainers will select their mustangs for the competition on Aug. 26 and a dozen other horses from the Piceance-East Douglas Management Area will be available for adoption by the public. Visit Meeker Mustang Makeover on Facebook for more info.

Aspen Words

The 2023 Aspen Words Literary Prize was awarded to Jamil Jan Kochai for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories,” a collection of short stories about Afghanistan, Afghan Americans and state violence. “My entire life, I’d grown up with my family’s stories about this small village in Logar, Afghanistan,” Hotak wrote. “Many of these stories were joyous and beautiful, but just as often, they were immensely violent.” This summer, several hundred free copies of the book will be distributed in the Valley in conjunction with events hosted by Aspen Words and Pitkin County Library.

They say it’s your birthday!

Folks celebrating another trip around the sun this week include: Donni Cochran, Rachel Gillespie, Wewer Keohane, Sloan Shoemaker and April Spaulding (April 27); Wes Boyd, Julie DeVilbiss, Julia Morton and Judy Welch (April 28); Diana Sirko and Luis Yllanes (April 29); Thomas Cochran, Alexandra Jerkunica and Gretchen Stock-Bell (April 30); Pixie Byrne, Melanie Gianinetti Cardiff, Devika Gurung, Jeff Leahy, Ginny Parker and James and William Steindler (May 1); Sherry Caloia (May 2); Suzie Brady, Kathy Goudy, Maura Masters and Mary Matchael (May 3).

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