Readers Unload On Parking And Traffic Problems

As long as city officials are thinking about eliminating the reserved taxi parking spots in front of the closed Davenport Hotel, “Bagpipes” readers have some other parking and traffic concerns to raise.

For example, Su Sawyer of Spokane thinks commercial loading zones tie up parking space for too long.

“More of them should be reduced to fewer hours, say 8 to 10 in the morning or a noontime time or whenever the area which they’re in is served by delivery,” she said. “Delivery might also be moved out of town so that the commercial loading doesn’t have to be there at all.

“Also, those cloth caps that are left on parking meters - those are often left for hours or even days by their owners. I think that that should be eliminated.”

Phyllis J. Brooks of Spokane adds: “There should be fluorescent, bright, white paint around the cement islands in the streets. They do not stand out enough and are especially difficult to spot at night.”

Taxing the taxpayers’ patience

No matter what Gov. Mike Lowry thinks, a tax cut such as the one he vetoed last week makes a difference to John Choate of Spokane.

“And I do have to consider whether to approve any levies that are placed on the ballot,” adds Choate. “I think we’ve reached the saturation point.”

Increase the fare on the flight to the suburbs

Kay Stoltz of Spokane contributed this addition to the growing “Bagpipes” list of local issues for this fall’s political campaigns:

“We need a viable downtown. Preferential treatment should be given to people who choose to live close to work and those who develop city property to reclaim neighborhoods.

“Those who use city facilities and live outside should pay for that lifestyle choice. The streets in city neighborhoods shouldn’t be run down by people who have chosen to live a long way from their work and shopping and so have to use neighborhood streets to get to where they need to be.

“Make alternative transportation a priority.”

What issues do you want this fall’s candidates to address? Send them to “Bagpipes.”

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, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond to issues raised on Tuesdays: Call 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to celh27b@prodigy.com. Representative replies appear Thursdays. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.