At the beginning of April a meeting was held regarding the overwhelming
traffic problem and the number of vehicles on Ambergris Caye. Attending
this affair were Mayor Alberto Nuñez, Deputy Mayor Baldemar Graniel,
representatives from the Police/Citizens Advisory Committee, Traffic
Committee, Town Council and the Police Department. Among the 20 plus
parties present it was unanimously voted to draft a petition to put forth
to the concerned people of San Pedro. It was allegedly stated by the
Mayor at the meeting that with a minimum of 2000 signatures, the petition
could be made an ordinance and put into effect.
Reported at the meeting was the number of
tourists to La Isla Bonita, that have been returning to the island off
and on for the last five to ten years, who say the traffic situation is
the worst they have ever seen it. Because of the large vans, narrowing of
streets, suffocating dust and the congestion, many say they are not
returning to the island. It has even been said our traffic problem is
worse than the crime, and that something drastic needs to be done to
address this.
The authors of the petition being circulated are now
asking the concerned public to aid them in their quest by signing a copy
of the petition stated below. Anyone needing more information or a copy
to sign may contact the Mayor or any Town Councilor at 2198.
The number of vehicles on San Pedro has
been growing at an incredible rate. Even if more restrictions are placed
on those who can bring new vehicles to San Pedro, the population is
growing at such a rapid rate that hundreds of new vehicles will be
brought onto the island in the next few years. Paving the streets is one
solution but the sand streets is a part of the ambiance of San Pedro and
is one of the things tourist love that set us apart from most other
tourist destinations. Paving the narrow streets does not take care of
parking, the excess traffic or speeding. Therefore the types of vehicles
brought onto the island must be restricted.
We, the undersigned people of San Pedro, want all
future vehicles brought onto this island to be limited to electric golf
carts, taxis included. The only exception would be: 1. Dump trucks
limited to five cubic yard boxes for delivery of sand, rocks and gravel.
2. Tractors and trailers for the delivery of large goods and building
materials.
This means there would be no more automobiles,
pick-ups, motorcycles, SUV's, vans or light trucks allowed to be brought
onto the island.
"Golf carts only" has been established in other
communities around the world that are even larger than San Pedro and it
is working well and giving charm to these cities. Electric charging
stations would have to be established at the airport and downtown for the
taxis.
Consideration needs to be given to
permanently closing Barrier Reef Drive with posts that can be slipped out
easily for emergency vehicles. Land will need to be set aside for parking
at the south end of town for all the development that is now going on,
clear down to the end of the island. Parking will also need to be
established at the north end of town for all of that traffic that will be
coming to town when the bridge is installed and the new community
developed.
Owners of vehicles stored overnight on public streets
must lose their permit for that vehicles, as San Pedro's narrow streets
leave no room for vehicle storage.
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