Glade Park and Pinon MesaThe RoadFor a long time I have intended to do a page on the roads that lead to Glade Park, primarily the road we share with Colorado National Monument. Today I discovered the blog of Colorado National Monument's new "transportation scholar." I do not know what a transportation scholar does, but it will be interesting to learn. This seemed to be a good time to start the road page, where we can follow "Fast Times at Colorado National Monument," and fill in the interesting road issues and challenges. A Classic Western Quarrel:A History of the Road Controversy at the Colo. Nat. MonumentBy Lisa Schoch-RobertsA graduate student did some excellent research, and wrote an excellent history of the interaction between Colorado National Monument and Glade Park residents.A Classic Western Quarrel The "Thelma and Louise" SyndromeEar to the Ground Blog entry:Is "Thelma and Louise" to blame for this? In case you have missed the flashing portable electronic billboard...and did not get handed a flier at the Colorado National Monument entrance gate. Think they are trying to tell us something? It is all about the wrecked mess left in Red Canyon by an apparently suicidal woman last fall. It was all so "Thelma and Louise," I makes you wonder if that unfortunate ending to an otherwise good movie may have led this poor woman to believe this would be a glorious way to end it all. It is not the first time movies have glorified ill conceived actions. As a previously blogged, it is a double tragedy when someone is both suicidal and bent on going out in a dramatic way that will cost thousands of dollars in clean up, not to mention some risk to the rescue and clean-up crews, inconvenience to commuters, and loss of access to tourists. How much money and man hours will the CNM have to spend on this mess, that could have been better directed toward their mission. That is a poor memorial to a life. New barriers have been installed along the road. Hopefully no one else will be inclined to subvert them to do another "Thelma and Louise." Road ConcernsEar to the Ground Blog entry2007 “Drug use, speeding, suicides plague National Monument,” is the headline for the Daily Sentinel article about the challenges for Monument staff. If you have traveled that road after dark you have noticed the activity does not cease at sundown. It used to be mainly couples trying to find a find a romantic spot with a view of the city lights. But drinking and drug use have increased, including meth. Cold Shivers point is a hot spot for drug use, as well as suicidal people. Of course Glade Park commuters, and the trucks and vehicles that bring us goods and services, are discussed. It appears to be an unusual situation for a national park road to also be the feeder road for a community. But this interchange has been going on for a long time. (see Glade Park Library, “Classic Western Quarrel”). Be aware that they do have a radar gun now, and they issued 56 speeding tickets in 2006. If you do get a ticket you are dealing with the Feds. They also have some new signs on the way to address the interaction between motorists and cyclists. I will be glad to see that, if anyone pays attention to them. Why do drivers feel that they are entitled to go out around a cyclist wherever they encounter them, even when moving into the oncoming traffic lane on a blind corner? That is nuts. There is lots of food for thought in this article. Let’s digest it, and think about what role we can play to improve things. The decision to move to Glade Park should include acceptance that we need to allow plenty of time for the commute. We have to be willing to share the road with sight-seers and cyclists. Take a deep breath and relax. Maybe that slow poke will keep you from getting a speeding ticket. And if you have a cell phone and notice suspicious activity at night, move on past it, then call it in. Glade Parkers can have a big impact on how safe that stretch of road is.
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