Dear Editor

Okay, now that we’ve had a fatality and another injury involving traffic are we ready to seriously address this problem? Yes, we need a stop sign on Cringle at Redwood Shores Pkwy. Drivers are NOT getting it. What is so important that it is worth killing someone? Talking on cell phones, rolling through stop signs, excessive speed, I have witnessed all of this on a regular basis. People are getting ruder and ruder and there seems to be no end. I called our mayor a couple months back to report a semi who had two trailers and rolled through the stop sign on Sandpiper and Marine Pkwy and then proceeded to speed up the road towards the freeway. I needed to go 45 mph to catch up with him to get the appropriate info from his truck. I emailed the mayor with my concern of construction traffic adding to this already dangerous situation and she immediately responded by contacting the RCPD. I got email from her, the chief and the officer who investigated the situation. The driver was reprimanded and the whole construction group was “warned”. Great response from the city. My point is, more citizens who witness incidents need to get involved and we need to demand some action out here. Look at Edgewood road on the west side of the Alameda. They know how to slow people down…………speed bumps. Is that what it’s going to take? I’m tired of the rude behavior by drivers and I think it’s high time we really look for a fix.

— Kathleen S.

Dear Ms. Mertens.

I read, with interest, your article in the November Pilot, “Stop Sign on Cringle Dr.

I have lived at my current address near the corner of Cringle and Barkentine for 30 years. Until 2006 when I retired I had to make it somehow to 101 to get to work. I almost never went to Cringle to make the left hand turn onto Redwood Shores Parkway,

It was nearly impossible to find an opening during peak traffic times. If I ever decided to try it there, hoping for a miracle, I almost always just turned right and made a U-turn at Marlin Drive. Less hassle and safer. Most of the time, I made the left hand turn from Bridge Parkway onto Redwood Shores Parkway, because it has a 4-way stop. Even with that, I had to be very aggressive and make sure I made a move the instant it was my turn (not always easy to discern when everyone hits the stop at nearly the same time.). I always had a feeling that regulars at that corner came to recognize my orange VW Beetle and gave me the benefit of the doubt. I made that turn going to work for several decades and it kept getting harder to find that opening.

I have since retired and can choose the time that I leave in the morning. I do go walking and biking and find that few cars ever stop at Cringle & RWS Parkway when the sign blinks. It is a gamble for pedestrians. I just stay back until all cars have passed and it is safe without the sign. I have talked to other pedestrians and many have the same concerns.

Most RWS citizens never have to turn left onto RWS Parkway, so the majority do not want to have a stop sign placed at Cringle. Citizens to the South of the Parkway are definitely a minority. I am for a 4-way stop sign at Cringle and RWS Parkway. Not only would it make it safer for pedestrians, but it would make it safer for autos. More people could make the left turn at Cringle, freeing up traffic at Bridge Parkway. Also the pause required at Cringle would break up the bottleneck at Bridge parkway and allow a smoother flow of traffic.

— P. R. Mc Gowan, Redwood Shores resident

Dear Editor,

We live on Cringle Drive and support to have a stop sign for safety purposes. It is very difficult for us to cross onto Redwood Shores Parkway during traffic time. There is a big increase in the volume of cars since we moved here 25 years ago. Please continue the efforts for a stop sign. We would really appreciate it.

— Sincerely, Cynthia and Bob Fabianski

P.S.We know many of our neighbors support a stop sign too.
We will be happy to petition if that would help.

Dear Editor,
I would like to voice my support for a stop sign at Cringle and Redwood Shores Parkway. I can tell you first hand that when I ride bikes with my children, that the intersection is not safe.

Cars can be traveling quite fast and even with the pedestrian crossing lights on they don’t always slow down. Also I see children trying to cross while riding to school in the morning. It makes me nervous because it seems like an accident is waiting to happen. I hope if enough people voice their support that

something will be done about this.

— Submitted by Deborah Parker, RWS resident and parent

RSCA NEEDS YOUR VOICE.

Thanks so much for the feedback as shown in your letters, which RSCA will bring to the attention of Redwood City officials in the hope that a stop sign will be installed at the corner of Cringle and Redwood Shores Parkway. It is important that residents continue to express their opinions when there are issues such as this.

— By Carol Mertens, Editor