THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 4, 1995 TAG: 9508030184
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Stay home Saturday night if you live off 22nd St.
Regarding the driving situation at the beach on Saturday nights, it seems that in order to ease traffic congestion, police officers are placed at every intersection with 22nd Street from Arctic Avenue to the expressway, and no turns off 22nd Street are allowed. As a resident of Mediterranean Avenue, I have found that this attempt to eliminate traffic seems to make the situation even more problematic.
On a recent Saturday night, in a desperate attempt to fill my gas tank, I made the mistake of crossing over 22nd Street. While trying to get home, I found myself driving down 22nd Street approaching the expressway. When I reached Cypress Avenue, and my last chance at making it home without getting onto the expressway, I made a left turn, only to be stopped by a police officer. He informed me that in order to get to my home, I needed to get onto the expressway and get off at the exit for First Colonial Road.
Now, I'm wondering where the sense is in driving five minutes to get gas, then taking a 20-minute detour to get home? Is my 30-minute trip two miles down the road representative of the elimination of traffic? Are residents of the beach trapped on their side of 22nd Street every Saturday night? Was my simple attempt to get home deserving of a police officer's yelling at me about obeying traffic laws as if I were some ignorant, rebellious driver?
While I do appreciate the city's efforts, I'm just wondering if there isn't another method to curb traffic problems at the beach that might be more effective, and less hectic to its very residents.
Jenny Boyce
Oceanfront by CNB