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STOP THE RAMPANT RESIDENTIAL GROWTH ALREADY!!!

Being one of the "FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES" is no badge of honor. Compare the (Revised) Zoning Map to the one from 1995, then question what happened to A-1 Lands before we create knee-jerk "Open Space District" legislation in, but more on that later.

Here's my solution to Local and Statewide traffic "Coagulation":

Why is it always about making it easier to DRIVE? The biggest part of the problem is the fact that one can't safely walk most anywhere between subdivisions and school or the grocery store...much less to work!

The side of the roadway in Georgia is mostly a land of drainage ditches, so people have to walk or bike IN the roadway, and that's just not safe.

We need to get most bicyclists OFF of the roadways...for their own safety as well as that of motorists and others...and consider this : They're (mostly) unlicensed, uninsured, and often ignore basic vehicle laws while vigorously attempting to move within the motorized traffic they otherwise impede.

Mandating bicyclists movement within the roadways is plain stupid, and expecting anyone other than an experienced bicyclist to safely negotiate "Bicycle Lanes" is an assumption that "Everyone" using them actually does know the Rules of The Road and is physically capable of negotiating traffic.

People (Especially kids!!!) will learn traffic proxy, ie. Stay Right/Right of Way, MUCH more safely if we "Pipe 'n Plane" drainage ditches into wide pathways (using "Armor-Coated" gravel vs. expensive asphalt or concrete) that will create access throughout our communities.

Accommodating ALL pedestrian, bicycle, Skate-Board, Skate-shoe, etc. traffic...whereas right now your either in the street, or on the roadside in a ditch...allows Us to use some method OTHER THAN A MOTORVEHICLE to get to school, business, or "The Store" without competing for a lane in traffic, where experienced bicyclists may still venture at their own peril.

Mandated Bicycle Licensing & Safety courses could be funded, along with these Pathways, by an extra dollar on drivers licenses, a dollar surcharge on vehicle insurance, plus perhaps SPLOST funding could procure the safe community pathways that are so blaringly absent.

That's where I believe our considerations of mitigating traffic with ANY money should go FIRST!

Jack Gleason