In 1970s Spenard, one of my big concerns was making sure my prized yellow Sears 10-speed didn't get ripped off. I've been riding a bicycle on these streets for 40 years. I know the short cuts. I understand the traffic. I can safely cross nightmarish roads like Minnesota Drive -- even at rush hour.
But if I had children I wouldn't want them walking or riding their bicycles on Spenard Road or many of the side streets in my neighborhood, which is one of the most dangerous places in Anchorage to walk or bike.
According to state Department of Transportation statistics compiled by Access Alaska, Spenard has two of the five most dangerous intersections in Anchorage if you are a walker or a cyclist. Most neighborhood streets have no sidewalks. Kids walk narrow roads, unprotected from pickups speeding in excess of 35 mph.
We can fix this, but efforts to rebuild Spenard Road have continuously sputtered for 20 years. We sat out a big capital spendfest in last year's budget because we lack consensus on rebuilding the road.
The business district here has become a destination, a place where customers patronize multiple locations on one trip. Because it's sometimes hard to find parking, and because they like the freedom of being carless, many people use bicycles or walk.
Rebecca Mohlman, a quick-witted local entrepreneur, recently moved the Tap Root, her live music venue, from South Anchorage to the old Fly By Night Club. It's busy at her new joint and many customers are bicyclists. Just down the street, the Bear Tooth Theatrepub flourishes; one of its owners told me the number of people traveling to his business by bicycle has significantly increased the past two years.
A local developer renovated an almost derelict Spenard Road hulk into a modern building with charming retail businesses, including a coffee shop and storefronts where walkers and bicyclists might linger.
But, like some business owners on Spenard, this developer is strongly opposed to making changes to the road. At a June public meting, she said traffic alignment changes to make Spenard safer for walkers and bicyclists might deter motorists from turning in to or parking in front of her tenants' businesses.
Construction delays on Arctic Boulevard a few years ago contributed to an atmosphere of skepticism among Spenard business owners about safety improvements. Phased construction and backdoor access routes could minimize the inconvenience.
Neighbors, organizations and businesses in our safety advocacy group, the Spenard Complete Streets Coalition, worry that until someone is killed, a safer streets project won't get started.
We need to: 1. Create separated sidewalks, bike lanes and disabled access to ensure safety; 2. Manage construction so it's as painless as possible for merchants; and 3. Develop parking solutions.
Separated sidewalks and bike lanes improve conditions for existing businesses and attract new development. With modern complexes like Tikahtnu Square and South Anchorage malls being built, Spenard needs to become safer and easier to access for its businesses to compete.
Communities from Madison to Minneapolis and from San Francisco to Whitehorse have employed "complete streets" concepts, increasing walking and bicycle activities and calming traffic.
A new Federal Highway Administration report that studied projects in three states showed a 29 percent reduction in crashes when roads were narrowed, making room for pedestrians and bicyclists. New designs generally involve conversions of four lanes to three. A three-lane alignment south of Northwood Drive on Spenard Road carries 36 percent more traffic than the four-lane north end of the road, which has 52 percent more accidents.
Thankfully, Assemblyman Ernie Hall has taken the initiative to resume public meetings on Spenard Road and is working hard to find consensus. The next meeting is today at 5:30 p.m. in the mayor's eighth-floor conference room at City Hall and will include Mayor Sullivan's senior staff and state legislators.
We can make Spenard streets safer if we don't allow fear of change to dominate the discussion. Complete streets will be good for business and are the right thing to do for a safer community.
Jay Stange is a member of the Spenard Complete Streets Coalition.
By JAY STANGE