If we want improvements on Wacahoota Road, we should start organizing now, with the understanding that it will take several years to make major improvements.  Democracy is indeed an endurance sport.

 

Wacahoota Road is one of the oldest paved roads in Alachua county, and I believe is only 16 feet wide (two 8 foot wide travel lanes).   When it is repaved, the county will have to make it at least 20 feet wide and hopefully 22 feet, (two 11 foot travel lanes). 

 

If we want "bike lanes"  which on this road would be classified as paved shoulders, we should begin requesting them now.  Wacahoota Road is a county road, and the county does not require putting paved shoulders on its roads.  The State of Florida (FDOT) does install paved shoulders on all state roads, and if for some reason the FDOT were to fund the repaving of this road, paved shoulders would be installed.

 

We should start now to lobby our County Commissioners for rebuilding of Wacahoota Road with paved shoulders.   We should remind them that there is a tourism aspect to this road in tht it connects Gainesville to Micanopy, and many visiting cyclists use this road.

 

A good starting point is the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (BPAB).  Thise who are interested in this issue should attend meetings and start to learn the ropes of public participation in transportation issues.  The next BPAB meeting is scheduled for Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. and is usually held in the Grace Knight Conference Room on the 2nd floor of the County Administration building(located on the corner of University Ave. and Main Street).   The Feb. 27 meeting may be cancelled, so check the "Public Meetings" listings in the Gainesville Sun, which is in Section B of the Sunday paper.  Or you can call Dekova Beaty at 334-5074.

 

This might also be a good topic to bring up at our annual Bike Club meeting.

 

Democracy is dull and tedious and takes forever, but if you participate, you can have an effect on our future.