One evening last week, television programming was so dismal that I happened across the airing of the Mercer Island City Council meeting and was fascinated by a discussion of parking, bike and pedestrian issues on the “Mercers.” I wish I had seen the discussion of the 40th Street improvements that have been going on for the last several months. I realize these improvements are not finished, but as a frequent driver and pedestrian on 40th, I see no improvement whatsoever. Nor do I see any evidence that there will be any improvement when they are finished. The people who live along 40th park out of necessity in the street — their hedges in many cases overgrow the narrow asphalt pedestrian path and the “planting strip” is a mud pit during a good portion of the year. Pedestrians are forced to walk single-file and even abandon the narrow footpath for the heavily trafficked street. Get rid of those silly planting strip-mud patches and give us some real sidewalks. This is not a little-used side street, but a major arterial, and we need a safe place to walk and bikers need a safe place to ride.

Carolyn Bradley