FAQ: Access to the New Parkwood Library Location?

Here's a picture of the new location on the corner of Alston and NC 54.

You can't get there from here...  can we do anything about it?

Will there be a way for folks to walk or bicycle to the new library location?

 Probably not, unless gasoline goes to $10 / gallon and traffic on NC-54 and Alston disappears...

How about bicycling from Parkwood on NC-54?

 There are some brave folks who bicycle on NC-54, but I'm chicken. 

How about bicycling from Parkwood via Sedwick and Alston?

 That might work on weekends when there's not much traffic, but long stretches of Sedwick and Alston are substandard - just 10 foot wide lanes with no shoulders - not very good for pedestrians or bicyclists.  Also, the speed limit on Sedwick between NC 55 and Alston is 45 mph - a little nerve racking to have cars going by so fast if you're on foot or on a bicycle and there are no shoulders.  Here's a picture of Sedwick between NC 55 and Alston, facing East:

Any ideas on whether this situation could be improved?

 Answer from David Sokal (Parkwood resident):  I've talked to Durham Bike-Ped folks and written to the state DOT and to Senator Atwood, but there doesn't seem to be much hope for action anytime in the next 20 years.   Both roads are in the long-term Durham Bike Plan, but they are low priority.  Given current funding levels, no action is likely until about 2023.  2023 is a rough guess - not an official estimate.  It could be longer - maybe 2040?

 

Is there no hope? 

 Nope  - no hope at all..  the new library location will be accessible only by automobile. 

 

Initially posted by David Sokal, Parkwood resident - comments / additions welcome