Biking on US 1 between St Augustine South and St August Shores is dangerous.  Vehicle traffic on US 1 is getting worse every year. Like many people, my husband and I love to ride our bikes for recreation and for transportation to shopping, restaurants, health facilities and other destinations but it's getting increasingly too dangerous and frightening to do so. 

One day I came home after a short trip on US1 and said to my husband, "We need to find another place to live out the rest of our lives. I can't imagine how thick that traffic will be in 10 or 20 years when I'm 75 or 85. Riding our bikes on US1 is already too dangerous for me. I'll be a prisoner in my neighborhood. How will I get to see my grandchildren?"  We began considering moving after retirement.  We found out that a lot of people are feeling the same way.  

One day my husband had an idea.  A pedestrian/cyclist bridge over Moultrie Creek would solve this problem with other benefits.  Research shows that building alternative commuting routes for pedestrians and cyclists reduces vehicle traffic on the nearby roads, makes the roads safer, reduces carbon emissions, increases healthy recreational activity, and improves health and fitness levels. 

Connecting these two large middle-class neighborhoods, St Augustine South and St Augustine Shores, would give pedestrians and cyclists access to more parkland, businesses, restaurants and other destinations. It would allow a person to go from North Shores Drive to the hospital without going on US1. Families could ride the trails in The South through to the park or trails in The Shores.

We brought this idea to the St John's County, and it was met with positive enthusiasm.  The bridge we proposed would connect two areas of parkland - Vaill Point Park and St Augustine South Shore Drive Park.  Supporters can help by signing this online petition so that we can bring it to the County Commission.