Better Late Than Never
“This is a second request of the same issue that I called about
a couple of months ago. I didn’t see it printed or hear a reply
back from you, so I’m assuming you didn’t get the request or do
anything about it. There were only two calls like you said last
week, so maybe you needed something
to do now. I have two issues:
Better Late Than Never
“This is a second request of the same issue that I called about a couple of months ago. I didn’t see it printed or hear a reply back from you, so I’m assuming you didn’t get the request or do anything about it. There were only two calls like you said last week, so maybe you needed something to do now. I have two issues:
People speeding through downtown Morgan Hill in the morning as commuters. As a local bicycle rider who commutes up through Morgan Hill to the Milpitas, Santa Clara area, I notice people in the Morgan Hill downtown area do drive faster than any other area, including San Jose or Willow Glen. I’m not sure – maybe they love their jobs and are in a hurry to get there.
I also wanted to request assistance about getting some brush and trees that are overgrown on Monterey Highway cut back to make a safe passage for all bicycle commuters who do commute from Morgan Hill up to San Jose on Monterey Highway. The specific area I’m talking about is Monterey Highway just south of Metcalf Road, on the northbound side. Trees have overgrown the shoulder and are growing over the white line onto the road.
I already called Santa Clara County Road Commission and they said it was private property. So I’m asking if maybe you guys can help out to do something about it.
Also, people that drive have to swerve around us bicycle commuters, and at $3 a gallon, there might be more of us out there.”
Well, Red Phone doesn’t know how many crazy drivers are in other cities, but it certainly wants ours to be safe. Please remember readers – no matter how much you may love your job – respect your life and the lives of those around you and drive safely, especially through our small downtown area. Accidents happen, but they can be a lot worse with a lead foot and a side-tracked mind.
As for the dangerous brush on Monterey Road, Red Phone did a little digging but finally got to the “root” of the answer. Red Phone called Santa Clara County Road Maintenance, South Area and was referred to City of San Jose, so Red Phone called the City of San Jose’s Trees Department and talked to City Arborist Ralph Mize.
Mize told Red Phone that usually in the city of San Jose, it is the property owner who is responsible for the trees and plants on the right of way of their adjacent property. However, the city can still help an overgrown problem, especially if the vegetation is growing into traffic. Mize assured Red Phone that they would send an inspector out within five business days to see how best to do handle the problem, including trimming it back out of the public’s way if necessary. Mize also wanted to encourage our readers to call their dispatch line at 277-4373 if they see any problems with vegetation along the streets of San Jose, such as overgrown areas or broken branches on the road.
A couple of days later Mize called to inform Red Phone that the inspector went out and confirmed there are brush and other vegetation growing over the barrier. The inspector also noticed there is a similar situation on Metcalf Road. Mize said they will be holding a meeting next week to the discuss the exact plan of the trimming process, which will most likely involve a crew with traffic control. Mize also said they hope to have the work completed within a couple of weeks.
