Move Bike Lanes to Sola

The Santa Barbara City Planning Commission is moving toward eradicating all on-street parking on the four blocks of Micheltorena Street between State and Castillo streets. This is a very bad idea!

I am a business owner on Micheltorena Street between State and Chapala streets. My clients depend on the street parking on this corridor in order to see me. There is no available nearby off-street parking, making it crucial that street parking be available to patrons of this block’s many businesses. Many of my clients are disabled, making it especially crucial that they have a nearby and convenient means of parking. Businesses on this street will suffer significant financial losses if this plan is implemented.

There is no reason why, other than the city not wanting to add a new stoplight one block away on Sola Street (in order to make the street safer for bicyclists) — between State and Chapala, that the bicycle plan shouldn’t be moved one block down to Sola. That block has no businesses that utilize on-street parking — in fact, this block comprises two large parking lots on either side of the street!

This was a poorly thought-out plan that does not take into consideration the many businesses and our patrons who will be negatively impacted by this plan. I believe we can peaceably co-exist with this plan as long as it doesn’t eliminate the already very limited parking available on Micheltorena Street.

Please support our local businesses and the residents that live on this street and depend on it for parking by voting against this implementation and have your voice be heard at all future meetings regarding this matter!