Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (August 13, 2004)

Support for more housing at Mayfield

Editor:

Your recent editorial about development at the Mayfield site did not make any mention of neighbors who support increased density on the property.

My wife and I live across Central Expressway from the project site. We have not suffered unduly from the higher densities on Showers Drive and Ortega Avenue. We have been concerned about the decrease in Caltrain service to the San Antonio Station because of low ridership. In order to justify service to this station, increased density at the Mayfield site would be a plus.

The biggest problem with these kinds of developments is always concerns over traffic; cities, however, rarely deal effectively with the additional trips generated. If trip generation were treated in the same way that parking is treated (i.e. strict conditions placed on the developer), market forces might have a chance to work.

These "transportation demand management" measures could include phased development, which allows additional density only after the first phase has proved itself in terms of limiting trip generation. Other mechanisms could include eco-passes for all residents, separating the cost of the housing from the cost of parking (allowing those without cars to realize a financial benefit from car non-ownership), and car/bike-sharing.

Let's hope that the city council finds some innovative "win-win" solutions in this case.

Bill and Terri Michel
Ortega Avenue

Another option for baby bullet cyclists

Editor:

In a recent editorial, you wrote about the lack of space on baby bullet trains, as well as the lack of solutions to this problem.

I would like to bring to your attention another solution that may be a realistic option for some Bay Area cyclists who want to use the baby bullet. Folding bicycles can be folded down into a compact package in under a minute, carried aboard without restriction, and then unfolded again just as quickly at the destination station. There are models available for as cheaply as $259, which is within the price range of many baby bullet commuters.

Local vendors of folding bicycles include C.M Wasson in Palo Alto, The Bicycle Outfitter in Los Altos and Gaerlan Custom Cycles in Squaw Valley.

Scott Atwood
Dawson Drive

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