Make the Jungle Trail Safe - Update #3

The good news is that support for the proposal continues to grow as we close in on 200 signatures in just over 5 weeks. But as many of you have alerted me, the local news daily TCPalm published a story today which feigns a neutral view but clearly questions the need for any change. I have crafted a response which points out the inaccuracies in the story and I urge you to make your opinion heard by emailing them at TCNLetters@TCPalm.com. Here is my response: TCPalm Rebuttal  Those in favor of Make the Jungle Trail Safe appreciate the attention to the issue provided in the article and video published by TCPalm. There are however several inaccuracies that need to be pointed out: - TCPalm states that records indicate less than one crash per year on the JT over the last 11 years. However, when I discussed this issue with Reisman he counted nine reported accidents since about this time last year, which agreed with the figure reported by Vero Beach 32963. - The map gives an inaccurate impression that motor vehicles would be restricted from the entire north section of the JT from CR-510 to its intersection with SR-A1A north of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. In actuality, the proposed boundary would be at the southern end of PINWR thereby maintaining motor vehicle access to both the Centennial Trail area and the Windsor boat launch/parking. And a few comments: - In the past a battle was fought to keep the JT open in order to prevent development from stretching all the way from SR-A1A to the Indian River Lagoon. We're glad that battle was won by the preservationists and only want to continue in that tradition by further enhancing the JT's reputation as a safe greenway vs. a joy-riding speedway. - TCPalm thinks Make the Jungle Trail Safe would have a better chance of success if it's support didn't come mostly from barrier island residents. The proposal has the support of both Bike Walk Indian River County and Vero Cycling, both of which have membership on and off the island. And let's look at their comment from the flip side, if the people who use the JT the most (many daily as evidenced by comments on the online petition) for recreational purposes were satisfied with the status quo, what would that say about the proposal? - And lastly, the Reisman's 15-minute video ride up the JT encountered 9 bicyclists, 1 jogger, and 2 moving vehicles. Pretty typical for how the JT is now routinely used - five times as many bike/ped users as motor vehicle users. But pronouncing it safe as a result couldn't be more wrong! Had the Reisman's been at the opening scene of the video (intersection of CR-510 and the JT) a few weeks earlier on April-21 they might have captured on video a car traveling at a high rate of speed on the JT careening across CR-510 (camera right to left) and crashing into the pine trees just inches away from the sign which reads "Historic Jungle Trail!"