Don't Put Sidewalks in Montecito

I would agree that we should maintain the rural character of Montecito, but a limited sidewalk project around MUS, in my opinion is a good idea. Anything we can do to encourage parents to get out of their cars and walk their kids to school or let them walk on their own when they are older is good for the community and the environment. What is more rural than the notion of walking to school? We as a community have gotten away from that. As a youth I walked or rode my bike to school every day and enjoyed the independence from my mom and the empowerment of making and being accountable for my own schedule and transportation. I think a sidewalk could be constructed that respects the design sensibilities and rural nature of the area and provides the feeling of safety that many desire. There is plenty of room to satisfy both side of the issue.

While we're on the rural topic I would love to bury all the power and utility lines in Montecito, a project which was considered a few years ago. Let's revive that discussion!

While were on the safety topic how about extending the bike lanes along the major travel corridors, particularily East Valley Road. Better bike lanes would encourage that mode of transportation and be good for the environment and our health. What a positive message this would evoke about the rural nature of Montecito.

Thanks for reading!

Interesting the Ms. Maher is against paving the walkway with a sidewalk but was not against molesting the pristine land she loves with a tennis court. How about cutting down some of the trees to make a bowling alley?

I do agree that using the wail of "save the children" is a worn out and illogical rallying cry.

Help me out here folks. Which formal logic fallacy does appealing that it will save the children fall into?

The closest I come to is: Fallacy of False Cause or Non Sequitur: incorrectly assumes one thing is the cause of another. Non Sequitur is Latin for "It does not follow."

* Example

Argument: Our nation will prevail because God is great.
Problem: There is no necessary cause and effect between God's greatness and a nation prevailing. Simply because God can be considered great does not mean a nation will prevail. (from wikipedia)

There is no cause and effect that the children will or will not be saved by a sidewalk since a car can still go over the curb and maul them.

Eh?

sensiblepath: This is far from a "limited sidewalk project around MUS." This pathway will extend from MUS, all the way down to North Jameson Lane, a total of more than 3000 feet. It will be "meandering," meaning that it will extend more than 5 feet from the curb in many places, and will therefore take out historic trees and unique landscaping, elements which are key to the semi-rural character of Montecito. Furthermore, to meet ADA standards, the path will be made of enhanced decomposed granite (to look almost like a concrete sidewalk), and will include numerous curb cuts and curb ramps, with brightly colored, plastic warning surfaces at each intersection and pedestrian crossing.

There is a common sense solution to all of this. Let's clean up the current footpath which has safely accommodated numerous children and others over the years and has become wider in many places as property owners have cleared areas next to the street. The few problem areas can be fixed by trimming back vegetation and leveling out the pathway. The County has the responsibility to maintain its right-of-way and has failed to do so. Instead, they have let bushes grow in spots, resulting in a pedestrian traffic nuisance. A little collaboration between the County, property owners, and other interested parties will surely result in a safe pathway all the way up San Ysidro. We don't need a $392,000 project that would destroy the look and feel of Montecito. The money would be better spent to help reduce traffic flow and speeds on the road!