This past weekend I was invited to help plant trees along Bardstown Road between the Showcase Cinema and Hikes Lane. This invitation was extended to me by Cindie Cook of the Bon Air Neighborhood Association. For those of you who are not familiar with Cindie she was friends with Jen Futrell. Jen was the cyclist that was struck and killed by a van while riding her bike home from work down Bardstown Road on October 3, 2008.
This was a tragic accident that has brought attention and outrage to the plight of cyclists and pedestrians.
The Bon Air Neighborhood Association, as a group is a big part of an effort to make the Bardstown Road corridor a tree-lined boulevard that is both pedestrian and bicyclist friendly. Cindie Cook believes this would encourage people to stop and shop. Also, there is a hope that it would bring new business to the area, especially the now vacant Showcase Cinema buildings.
I believe an area that is active and as busy as Bardstown Road could be a much safer place for pedestrians and cyclists and especially those that live in the area. As I was planting trees along Bardstown Road, the amount of traffic was unbelievable. Cars were buzzing by with very little break. I know it is hard to judge speeds as you are standing along the side of the road, but I would guess that many of these cars were speeding. During my three hours on Bardstown Road I saw two car accidents that occurred within 75 yards of where I was working. I also became oblivious to the horns that were honked almost continuously.
There was very little way for people in the neighborhoods along this stretch of Bardstown Road to walk to the mall, to restaurants or to even to cross the street. My hope is that the efforts of Ms. Cook and the Bonaire Neighborhood Association will make this area safer, limiting automobile accidents, pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents.
I learned from Cindy that Kentucky is currently seventh in the nation in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities. There were 32 cyclists and pedestrians killed in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky in 2008. It is her hope that the tree plantings will add awareness to bikers and walkers, as well as being a tribute to her friend that was killed. I applaud Cindy Cook for her focus on celebrating and memorializing the life of her friend and for trying to make the streets a safer place. I believe her efforts will save lives and prevent many serious accidents from occurring.
The City of Louisville has experienced bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents that have resulted in deaths over the past year. These include the triathlete that was killed during an event at E.P.Sawyer State Park earlier this year as well as several young children who were hit while riding their bikes. All of these deaths are needless and my sympathy goes out to the families and friends. They do, however, help to show the need for more driver awareness of those they share the roads of Kentucky with. We need more Cindies in Louisville to help make our roads safer.
