We made the Tax Turkey List

**Bob Wells FF 2** · 05-25-2011, 06:39 AM

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/rep...see-among.html

500,000 for a pedistrian bridge, wish it had gone to widening 331.

**wrobert** · 05-25-2011, 07:51 AM

Going to be surprised if that one makes it to the end. I do not see much of a downside for Scott to veto it to get his budget cut numbers up. Especially with the other stuff he is considering vetoing.

**Andy A** · 05-25-2011, 10:00 AM

Who is proposing this, anyway? As I drive by Western Lake it appears there is plenty of room for everybody to do their thing.

**SWGB** · 05-25-2011, 10:24 AM

While $500,000.00 for a pedestrian bridge sounds like a lot, take a look and remember that you pass over two bridges. Why isn't the TDC paying this? Too busy rebranding the rebrand?

Andy, the issue isn't the land based portion, but the current bridges allow for a very small margin of error if a bicyclist wobbles.

**Danny Burns** · 05-25-2011, 10:44 AM

The Western Lake bridge is dangerous...period. I saw someone in a crowd of bicyclists fall into the street and very nearly get her head run over by a pickup truck. People drive too fast, vacationers don't think anything can happen to them and just aren't careful. Sure, there are laws that could be enforced to prevent bad things from happening but, do we want to station a Sheriff's deputy there every day?

I agree that there are many things on the SoWal projects list that should come first but, there is a definite need for pedestrian/bicyclist protection on that narrow bridge.

Here's a novel idea: Instead of spending ridiculous amounts of money on political campaigns to trick constituents into voting for lousy candidates, how about a groundswell of concerned citizens forcing actual campaign reform.

For every corporate dollar donated to a political effort, an equal amount (donated by the same entity) could be donated to back up the consistently empty promises made by politicians. Just think of the BILLIONS that could go to education, infrastructure and other things that are actually needed and would be paid for by the companies that currently impede our nation's progress.

OK, I'm ready for the "naive" comments now. But keep in mind "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

**scooterbug44** · 05-25-2011, 11:44 AM

Most places on the path don't allow for much margin of error if you can't ride a bike properly.

Waste of money IMO.

**30ashopper** · 05-26-2011, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Wells FF 2

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/rep...see-among.html

500,000 for a pedistrian bridge, wish it had gone to widening 331.

Veto'd by the governor.

**30ashopper** · 05-26-2011, 02:47 PM

..along with 6 million in economic aid for the entire panhandle.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/naked...aid-stays.html

**Everytime** · 05-27-2011, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by 30ashopper

..along with 6 million in economic aid for the entire panhandle.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/naked...aid-stays.html

It is intriguing how the abbreviated link to the Miami Herald article includes the text "naked...aid-stays" as if the article mentions an adminstrative aid to the Governor who does not wear clothes to work yet managed to keep his or her job despite all of the other budget cuts.

**Smiling JOe** · 05-27-2011, 07:59 AM

If you think there is plenty of room on that section of 30A when riding bikes, you probably have never ridden your bike across it. It's not too bad if you aren't meeting oncoming bikers, but it can be crazy tight when you do, especially with automobile drivers who are not focused on driving.

Yes, $500K is a lot of money, but if building it saves lives, it seems cheap. Medical expenses for one serious collision could cost that much, easily.

**Beach Runner** · 05-27-2011, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

If you think there is plenty of room on that section of 30A when riding bikes, you probably have never ridden your bike across it. It's not too bad if you aren't meeting oncoming bikers, but it can be crazy tight when you do, especially with automobile drivers who are not focused on driving.

Yes, $500K is a lot of money, but if building it saves lives, it seems cheap. Medical expenses for one serious collision could cost that much, easily.

I agree that it's unsafe there and needs to be changed. But I wonder if there's a way to build the bridge for less money?

**kitlit** · 05-27-2011, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

If you think there is plenty of room on that section of 30A when riding bikes, you probably have never ridden your bike across it. It's not too bad if you aren't meeting oncoming bikers, but it can be crazy tight when you do, especially with automobile drivers who are not focused on driving.

Yes, $500K is a lot of money, but if building it saves lives, it seems cheap. Medical expenses for one serious collision could cost that much, easily.

Absolutely agree! I cross that bridge daily, and it scares the bejesus outta me because I am constantly seeing families with small children wobbling across while the cars are whipping around them... It's dangerous enough for adult riders who have good control, but because it is a path commonly traveled by groups out on family bike rides I think it's just that much more important to ensure a safer path for everyone.

**BeachSiO2** · 05-27-2011, 09:59 AM

I also saw over 2.3 million vetoed for the NWF Water Management District ERP program. I am curious as to how this will affect the program in the coming year as that's a large chunk of money.

**scooterbug44** · 05-27-2011, 10:00 AM

I ride my bike/drive across it all the time.

Agree it can be scary with young kids/poor riders so close to traffic, but building a bubble is not the solution.

Many of the same conditions exist all along 30-A. Should be build little bridges everywhere bikers get close to the road?

Or should people use some common sense and learn to ride a bike?

**kitlit** · 05-27-2011, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

Many of the same conditions exist all along 30-A. Should be build little bridges everywhere bikers get close to the road? Or should people use some common sense and learn to ride a bike?

I don't believe it's an issue of learning how to ride a bike. Our area is a tourist community (not that the locals don't bike, too--we do!) and that particular stretch is heavily used, particularly by families staying in Watercolor, Seaside and Grayton.

Living in Seagrove, it often makes me nervous when I'm out walking my dogs where the road and the bike path meet in many places. But no, I'm not suggesting that we build little bridges everywhere. But you do have to look at the usage for the area in question and understand who is using it and how often.

The kids on vacation don't need to "learn to ride a bike"... they're children! They are going to wobble and sometimes fall down. I think it is wise to minimize the chances that they will, as a previous poster mentioned, get their little heads run over! Just my .02.

**scooterbug44** · 05-27-2011, 10:21 AM

Anyone riding a bicycle needs to know how to ride a bike and adjust their activities in line with their skill level.

Yes, little kids are little kids and as such they ride like little kids.

A $$ bridge keeps them safer in this small stretch of road (After a year passes of construction and them actually riding IN the roadway). Helmets (that are actually on AND fastened), bike safety instruction, reflectors/lights etc. would keep them safer on all stretches of the road.

**melscuba** · 05-30-2011, 11:37 AM

We ride that stretch of the bike path every summer as a group of 10... 4 adults , six children.... more for our family of five. The ones who don't ride as well, we trailer. That being said, it is a white knuckler as you pedal over the bridge. We all use helmets, we go single file, and we time our journey across the bridge, so as to avoid oncoming bikers and cars the best we can. It still scares the crap out of me. It's tight, and even a good bike rider can make a mistake. Most of all, a driver can make a brief mistake, and tragedy would strike. I live in Atlanta, so lets face it, white knuckles are a part of getting through the city. Even with all precautions, I'm still scared crossing that bridge. I'm not one for spending ridiculous amounts of money, but I would like to see that very tight part of the bike path widened in some way. It is heavily traveled by runners, walkers, bikers, family pets, etc..