Don't take away parking

For the people who have commercial and residential property on Frederick Street and the intersection of Broadway and Frederick, the city's proposed bike lanes could be disastrous. Bike lanes will devalue the property and hurt business.

We live at the corner of Independence and Frederick Street in the historic Woods building. The business space is not currently used for business purposes, but we would like it to be in the future. If the city put in designated bike lanes there would be no parking for customers on Frederick and only two spaces near the building on the Independence Street side.

Following Frederick toward Broadway are historic homes that already have little off-street parking. Where will they park if the proposed bike lanes are made?

The $250,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health would be better spent on widening the trail at the Osage Center to incorporate bike lanes. Many times I have heard people complain that the bicycles whiz by so fast they frighten and endanger the walkers and joggers. If the trail were widened the bike riders could have one side and the walkers and joggers the other. All would have access to the trail to pursue healthy habits in a safe manner.

Bicycles can already be ridden legally on city streets. Please don't take parking from our commercial businesses.

CECELIA BOOS, Cape Girardeau