As a 20-year resident of Mercer Island and a regular bicyclist, I am concerned that the proposed Island Crest Way road diet is a solution in search of a problem. While having a bicycle lane on Island Crest Way would be nice, it is not worth the impact to both vehicles and bicyclists. With the road diet, an increasing number of drivers will choose East or West Mercer Ways. This increased vehicle traffic on the perimeter roads will increase the conflicts between motorists and bicyclists — with a corresponding increase in the number of accidents. When such an accident occurs, it is always the bicyclist who is injured, sometimes seriously.

Mercer Island attracts bicycling enthusiasts from all over the Puget Sound area. They enjoy riding around the Island on the perimeter roads (East and West Mercer). ICW, with or without a bicycle lane, will not attract bicyclists who prefer the scenic ride around the Island.

While the bicycling community enjoys the scenic ride around MI on the perimeter roads, we do not enjoy the occasional road rage and accidents which occur, particularly on the windy sections of the road. The ICW road diet will increase such occurrences, to the detriment of all.

Money would be far better spent improving portions of East and West Mercer Way — to make it safer for all — bicyclists and motorists.

Walter R. Boos