You’re sitting in traffic trying to get to work, the clock ticking as the traffic doesn’t budge and you find yourself screaming at cars, “can you put a move to it!,” while the result of the traffic is another “new store” in the Avenue.
We all have seen or been stuck in the traffic that clogs our main roads. Not only during “rush hour” but it gets backed up throughout the week and weekend.
And if you’ve ever been to the entrance of The Avenue by Books-A-Million, you know that it is a major traffic area that blocks the highway to the people trying to get home, go to work or pick up their children from school. Adding a Trader Joe’s will only increase that amount of traffic.
This increase of cars racing down and up the roads causing traffic across not only affects all car drivers but also golf cart drivers. Golf cart drivers already have trouble finding golf cart parking having to take car parking which affects cars from being able to find parking too. Overpacked parking lots are the main conflict of adding a highly liked store into an already rarely used outside shopping center because crashes are bound to happen anyway.
As a golf cart driver, I know the dangers of cars, especially those who speed. Having to sit at the 4-way stop, waiting for a chance to go with my stomach on the floor, scared to cross. The sound of cars roaring down the road, the screeching of tires, and the unsettling feeling of being so small and exposed on the side of the street. Even if I arrive at my destination I have to worry about parking. Having to find a spot that is made for golf carts is a big trouble. Going in circles in the avenue trying to find a spot. It gets so bad during weekends to the point where I have to go home and come back later in the day because of the amount of cars.
Even if Trader Joe’s will only increase that unsettling feeling and further the risk of road injuries and accidents there is a way to lower those chances. By placing Trader Joe’s in a different area where there is easier access, more parking, and a more clear traffic area can fix that problem and solve everyone’s worries/troubles.
To contribute you can work with local authorities, traffic engineers, and the developers to ensure that any new development — like the Trader Joe’s — takes into account the traffic flow, pedestrian and golf cart safety, and sustainable solutions for the area.
We need to protect the future of our community before the roads get even more clogged.
