Should parking be allowed on Lake Avenue during rush hour?

[Joan Roberts]

I don't condone going 50 MPH down Lake.
I don't have a problem people driving at or slightly under the speed limit.
I do have a problem with the right-down the middle part.

Purposely obstructing traffic flow creates situations that are arguably as dangerous as speeding. Is it safer to let a speeder go on their way or to create a situation where they are trying to barge through packed-up traffic behind the obstructor?
The worst of the bunch (and they are out there) will tail-gate, cut people off, and pull psychotic left-of-center passes in the face of on-coming traffic. As they start to barge through traffic, people tighten-up the pattern to avoid being cut-off. Then it is impossible to politely change lanes for a turn.
I don't much care for most old platitudes, but two wrongs don't make a right. It is all about getting where we are going safely and with minimal ruffled feathers. Creating a dangerous situation (obstructing two lanes) that amplifies another dangerous situation (speeding) does not fix anything. It only exposes more people to more danger and aggravation.

Agreed.

If a hotheaded moron gets frustrated by the self-appointed speed patrol and decides to pull one of the manuvers you mentioned and runs down a kid on his way to Taft, it may be the moron's fault, but the kid's still dead.

Other streets have joined together to petition the city to do the job the right way. The message does get out.

[Bill Call]

As I was driving to work this morning I noticed 8 police cars parked in front of one of the apartment buildings on Lake. I assume it must be serious.

One of the reasons allowing parking on Lake would be a good idea is that it would make it easier to rent those apartments which means landlords could be a bit choosier which means maybe it would be less likely to see 8 police cars parked in front of a once desireable address.

I was drivng down Lake in Rocky River. I did not notice any no parking signs. Have they elliminated the parking ban? If Rocky River can allow parking why not Lakewood?

[Brad Babcock]

There are a couple of reasons why the situation in Lakewood is different from the situation in Rocky River. One reason is the population density of Lakewood itself. The second reason is that the area in question is the small end of the funnel onto the shore-way. Rocky river is closer to the mouth of the funnel.
I see some references to Rocky River drivers cutting-down Lake. A fair number probably do. If I lived in Rocky River, I would more likely jump on I-90 for the morning commute than slog down Lake, even if the traffic is much easier to deal with on Rt.2.
I have not sat at the Rocky River end of Lake to monitor traffic in the morning, but I would be curious to know just what percentage of the traffic is Lakewood's. In any event, traffic is pretty thick on most east-bound Lakewood roads that lead to Rt. 2 during the morning rush-hour, whether or not Lake is seen as the Rt. 2 extension to Rocky River.
For the folks who live in the apartments at the east end of Lake, it was no secret that they had to clear the street for rush hour. Still, when I was commuting down-town by that rout, there were usually some cars getting towed each morning, and the lane was not clear.
Is more off-street parking part of the answer? Is there any available real-estate for it? While over-night street parking is a necessity in most parts of Lakewood, I consider it a necessary evil.

[Joan Roberts]

OK,you almost had a convert .

I saw more than a few Type-A morons doing the weave and blowing past me on one of my rare rush hour trips down Lake this morning. I never doubted they were a problem, and I was reminded of it today.

BUT,, the moronic behavior wasn't in the zone where the apartments are. It's all between Webb and Cove, and in particulary between the park and Cove.

At Cove, where the apartments start, that goofy left turn signal slows the traffic down anyway. nd then it's just a couple of blocks to 117th, where as Alex Trebek would say, the scores can really change.

I don't see the folks in the $400,000 Lake Ave homes parking their Lexii on the street.

Also, does Lakewood have an "aggressive driving" ordinance, and if not, do we need one?

I contend a real "sting" operation, held over the course of a month or two, with some real fines, will be the only long-term answer.