Sample Complete Streets Advocacy Letter
Address email to:
- DOT Director Steve Sharkey
- Andrea Turner-DOT Chief of Staff
- Graham Young - Complete Streets Manger
- Daniel Ramos-Deputy City Administrator
- Lester Davis - Mayor's Office
- Baltimore Family Alliance
- Your city councilperson (for contact info or to find your representative click here).
To: steve.sharkey@baltimorecity.gov
CC:
adrea.turner@baltimorecity.gov
graham.young@baltimorecity.gov
daniel.ramos@baltimorecity.gov
info@baltimorefamilies.org
bcc
jed@bikemore.net
BCC:
jed@bikemore.net
Subject: Complete Streets Enforcement
Dear Director Sharkey,
Each year during Bike to School Week, the Baltimore Family Alliance takes action on a Complete Streets issue that would make Baltimore's streets safer for families. Last year, we emailed you about Slow Streets. We thank you for the subsequent implementation and look forward to seeing an improved program re-launching soon. This year, we are writing to ask that Baltimore City Department of Transportation begin enforcing illegal parking and traffic of cars in accordance with the Complete Streets modal hierarchy. BCDOT should prioritize staff and resources on ensuring the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and people using mobility devices.
It is our understanding that BCDOT currently prioritizes parking enforcement in peak hour restriction zones and residential permit parking zones first, both for the benefit of motorists. Because of the resources spent on this enforcement, enforcement of lanes intended for walking, biking, and public transit are often left unaddressed. A car parked too long in a residential zone or blocking a peak hour travel lane is an inconvenience. A car parked in a bike lane forces riders unexpectedly and unsafely into the street, and a car in a bus lane or bus stop can make hundreds of people reliant on transit late for work or prevent a rider using a mobility device from boarding. The latter are far more critical issues that need to be addressed.
If we want safer, more accessible Complete Streets, BCDOT should prioritize keeping bike lanes, bus lanes, and sidewalks clear through proactive and dedicated enforcement. This should come first, ahead of ticketing for violations that only inconvenience people in cars.
I want my family to be protected and safe from traffic injuries and deaths. We should be protecting the most vulnerable road users, and matching the prioritization of our resources in accordance with the adopted modal hierarchy.
Name:
Address (optional):
Zip Code:
Age:
Email:
Add a personal anecdote to strengthen our petition (optional):
(Longform paragraph option)