Boulder Weekly Endorses 2A

Ballot issue 2A: Remove traffic devices
Yes No

This is one of those not-so-rare political issues that's hard to take a position on, because partisans on both sides of the issue just take it too damn seriously. Only in Boulder would an issue concerning speed bumps and traffic circles devolve into charges of terrorism (a charge lobbed by the Safety First faction after Seconds Count! member David Wagner took down a couple of their signs).

But, alas, the Seconds Count! folks are on the right side of this one. Although we've always been doubtful about their name-we suspect that a group of people who hated "traffic mitigation" devices happened upon the fact that the darn things slow down ambulances and fire trucks-intention matters little here. The fact is, the devices do slow down emergency vehicles.

We also think the city deserves to have their precious devices ripped out to pay for their sometimes staggering arrogance when it comes to transportation. Certain city council members have a transportation agenda that radically de-emphasizes the motor vehicle. That's fine, but the city seems to emphasize this agenda at any cost, and shows an almost sadistic zeal to make driving as painful as possible. The greatest example came this summer, when council voted to increase funding for traffic circles-almost willfully ignoring the fact that citizens might well ban the damn things, thereby rendering the expenditure inexcusably wasteful.

Boulder is admirably progressive on many issues. We think that's good. But occasionally (some would say often), our elected leaders get out of touch. Supporting this measure would provide them with a needed wake-up call.