”
That water tank on Santa Teresa, the cement box that the city
said it was going to landscape, it looks awful. I want to know if
there are any plans to fix that and do a proper job of landscaping.
It’s an abomination! Thank you Red Phone, keep up the good
work.
”
Tank cleanup
“That water tank on Santa Teresa, the cement box that the city said it was going to landscape, it looks awful. I want to know if there are any plans to fix that and do a proper job of landscaping. It’s an abomination! Thank you Red Phone, keep up the good work.”
Red Phone:
The Red Phone checked in with Kristi Abrams, development engineer for Gilroy, who said the city is coordinating with a landscape architect to revise the existing landscape plans.
“The goal is to No. 1, replace the native, slower growing trees that died at both sites with similar native soil tolerant trees that will survive the harsh soil conditions and eventually take over both tank sites to provide native tree screening of both tanks in the long term,” Abrams said. “No. 2, to add additional faster growing non-native native trees that will provide immediate screening of the tanks in the short term.”
She said the city is scheduled to meet this month to review the plans. Planting will occur sometime this fall, possibly October, as weather permits.
Gas guzzling
“The rise of gasoline prices has certainly changed in the aspect that I will definitely think about driving around feverously. I live and work in Gilroy, so I will definitely not be driving to San Jose if I do not need it.”
Red Phone:
You and many others, caller. Fortunately it appears over the past couple of days, prices have done down a tad. The Red Phone never imagined it would get excited about a cost of $2.99 a gallon. But it’s curious … any other readers changing their driving habits because of the gasoline prices? Call in and let it know.
Flag flying
“I noticed this morning (Wednesday) the flag at McDonald’s on Chestnut was flying at half-staff, but none of the nearby car dealers’ were doing the same. Wondering if it was for Judge William Rehnquist, Hurricane Katrina victims or Gilligan, who died Tuesday?”
Red Phone:
A call to McDonald’s found your answer. Apparently, President Bush ordered flags flown at half-staff for two weeks, beginning Wednesday morning.
Walking hazard
“I do a lot of walking and I’ve noticed we have a lot of people on bicycles just going through sidewalks. I’m afraid even to move from one side to the other because I know somebody might be coming in back of me. And it’s scary, let me tell you.”
Red Phone:
The Red Phone wasn’t sure what to do with your call, but it contacted the city first, which referred it to Gilroy Police Sgt. Kurt Svardal, who mentioned some state codes.
“As a general rule, a bicyclist must follow the same rules of the road as a person operating a motor vehicle. That’s found under section 21100 of the vehicle code with controls bicycles,” he said. “In addition, there are a couple of ordinances … which say you cannot do that.”
The Red Phone checked the vehicle codes and, sure enough, code 21202 reads – in part – as follows:
“Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway,” except in specific situations. For more information about bicycles and vehicle codes, visit www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vc.htm.
And bicyclists, please note: A bicycle shall be operated in the same direction as traffic, not against it.
