In a “My Turn” column, Alan Johnson, the president of Hodges Companies, writes, “Loudon Road . . . is designed for the motoring public, travelling mostly to specific destinations” (Sunday Monitor Forum, Aug. 21).
Oh my gosh. I hope that’s not true.
Loudon Road is home to a significant number of residential homes where residents have access to their driveways and homes only via Loudon Road. There are no alternative routes.
Yet, in Johnson’s world, when these folks want to go to Keach Park, or Arnie’s, or even the grocery store, they should hop in their car (assuming they have one) even though the destination is in their neighborhood, less than a half-mile away.
And why must cars travel Loudon Road to access Loudon Road destinations? According to Mapquest, it takes a motor vehicle 10 minutes to travel to the Steeplegate Mall from city hall via Loudon Road and 12 minutes to travel via 393.
Less than one week before Johnson’s letter was published, on Aug. 15, Steve Duprey, another prominent and influential developer, wrote a letter that the Monitor titled “Concord should aim to be region’s greenest city.” (The contrast between the two letters is striking.)
Alternative transportation, i.e. walking and bicycling, are significant tools in the climate change battle. Promoting alternative forms of transportation is a necessary and integral part of any green city effort.
DAVID SKY
Concord