Hello Everyone - A Big Thank You for those that participated in Open Streets on Sunday and tried The Plaza Bike Lane. It was amazing to see kids out of all ages! As you know CDOT is currently extending the bike lane and studying its effects on calming traffic. So far so good!!! Many of you already voiced your excitement to see this transformation happening in our neighborhood. If you want to keep it, please contact our city leaders. Attached are names of decision makers and a sample letter you can cut and paste. Better yet use your own words of support and ask that this be included in the budget as an extension of the Parkwood road diet. A permanent bike lane of this kind will be the first for PM and the city! So, if you are behind this project, here’s what you can do: 1. Cut and paste the attached letter in support of the bike lanes. 2. Send the letter to each of the following city officials: Jennifer Roberts, Mayor — Phone: 704-336-2241 / Email: mayor@charlottenc.gov Vi Lyles, TAP Committee Chair & Mayor Pro Tem – Phone: 704-336-3431 / Email: vlyles@charlottenc.gov Patsy Kinsey, TAP Vice Chair & District 1 Rep – Phone: 704-336-3432 / Email: pkinsey@charlottenc.gov Greg Phipps, TAP Member & District 4 Rep – Phone: 704-336-3436 / Email: gaphipps@charlottenc.gov Kenny Smith, TAP Member & District 6 Rep – Phone: 704-336-3433/ Email: krsmith@charlottenc.gov Dimple Ajmera, TAP Member & District 5 Rep – Phone: 704-336-2777 / Email: dimple.ajmera@charlottenc.gov Danny Pleasant, CDOT Director – Phone: 704.336.3879 / Email: dpleasant@ci.charlotte.nc.us Dan Gallagher, CDOT Planning Manager – Phone: 704-336-4984 / Email: dgallagher@ci.charlotte.nc.us Ben Miller, Bicycle Program Manager – Phone: 704-336-2278 / Email: bgmiller@ci.charlotte.nc.us 3. Attend any of the following meetings that pertain to the transportation budget for 2018: May 10: Council Budget Adjustments Workshop (1:00 p.m.) May 24: Council Straw Votes (12:00 pm) June 12: Council Budget Adoption (7:00 p.m.) 4. Sign the “Stroll & Roll Plaza Midwood” petition today to continue to encourage pedestrian and bike safety measures in our neighborhood. Dear city leader, I am reaching out to let you know what a great addition the protected bike lanes on The Plaza have been for Plaza Midwood. While this is currently a one-week trial, we’ve already seen the amazing impact it can have on our community — making it safer for bikers and pedestrians, allowing families to enjoy our thriving neighborhood and slowing traffic on a road that far too often feels more like a highway than a residential street. I encourage you to consider making these protected bike lanes a permanent fixture on The Plaza, and add this to the 2018 transportation budget as part of the Parkwood road diet. I hope you’ll continue to make the safety and wellbeing of our neighborhoods a top priority. Thank you.