Active Members Get County to Clean Parker Road
The Monday Mileage Maulers were short on personnel today with only "Fast" Sue and Yours Truly on the Ride. But we were in the high cotton when we hit Parker Road (122nd St) at Newberry Road. The County very recently scrubbed the five mile south-bound stretch of full bike lane, making the road once again safe for cycling. Many of our West rides had been avoiding the road completely because of overgrowth and debris. At the very best you could single file on it.
And who do we have to thank, besides our responsive County staff and Commissioners? Well, we have ourselves to thank of course! I know of about a dozen folks (mostly club members) who have called in to complain about the rough road. It only takes a handful of concerned citizens to write in or phone in about an issue to actually make it an "issue." Well played, roadies. Well played.
Our next mission--Millhopper Road. Motorists have been complaining for at least a year now about our pacelines creeping into traffic. My response is always the same--help us get that road cleaned so we can ride safe! Millhopper is a scenic road and is not cared for by the State of Florida. That is good in that it is allowed to bloom and be pretty, but bad in that the County doesn't always prioritize it. Technically it is not a major arterial (which is why we enjoy riding on it so much).
If you want to ask the County to clean up Millhopper Road, you can contact them at bocc@alachuacounty.us. If you are so inclined, remember to include your full title, name of your business or affiliated institution, and how often you use the road. It doesn't hurt to mention if you are a motorist that uses the road as well. I know quite a few of us live within orbit of Millhopper and the Chevron.