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Pedestrians and cyclists in danger on O’Connor Way in SLO

A cyclist bikes towards Cal Poly in the green bike lane along California Blvd. which was added to increase safety for bicyclists. Another biking and pedestrian route, on O’Connor Way in San Luis Obispo, also can be an unsafe location, one letter writer said.
A cyclist bikes towards Cal Poly in the green bike lane along California Blvd. which was added to increase safety for bicyclists. Another biking and pedestrian route, on O’Connor Way in San Luis Obispo, also can be an unsafe location, one letter writer said. jjohnston@thetribunenews.com

We live on O’Connor Way in San Luis Obispo and have long enjoyed walking the road for exercise. There is a bike lane, called the Wayne Williams Bikeway, on both sides of the road from Foothill to Cuesta College, which allows room for both walkers and bicyclists.

Recently we have almost been hit more than once by cars passing other cars. They are traveling way too fast over the 45 mile per hour speed limit and veering into the bike lane, just barely missing us and probably other walkers or cyclists.

Technically, cars can legally pass each other as the road is marked with a broken yellow line. It is our belief that passing should not be allowed on O’Connor Way because it’s endangering the lives of people who are simply in the bike lane trying to get some exercise.

The county spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to install the bike lanes. It is up to the County of San Luis Obispo to change the rules on this road. Please talk to your supervisor and encourage him or her to help make O’Connor Way a no-passing street. Thank you!

Charlotte Gorton and Mark Jorgeson, San Luis Obispo

This story was originally published November 20, 2016 at 12:06 AM with the headline "Pedestrians and cyclists in danger on O’Connor Way in SLO."

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