Less Drive-In, More Walk/Bike

At the Goleta Planning Commission meeting October 14, the most frequent objection to McDonald’s new drive-in was the effect it would have on Hollister/Storke traffic. We should support better walking and biking at that entry to the Camino Real Marketplace; walking into McDonald’s and having a personal encounter with the staff is a healthier alternative to sitting in a car. There are nearby alternatives for drive-in service for those who need or want such service.

In the TED talk “The Walkable City” Jeff Speck presents persuasively on the mess we have gotten ourselves into by designing cities and suburbs dependent on automobile transportation.

As Goleta works to improve the walk-ability and bike-ability of Old Town, it should do the same for the Marketplace and the shopping center across the street. And a bike/walk bridge over the 101 is needed, if funding could be found, not another McDonald’s drive-in.