From:
Sent: Sunday, March 1, 2026 5:21 PM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Traffic change
March 1, 2026
Dear Sebastopol City Council Members,
I recall when the train ran down Main Street and traffic flowed without significant issues.
Since the removal of an entire traffic lane to create bike lanes, ones that are seldom used, traffic conditions in downtown Sebastopol have become extremely congested. Many people now avoid the downtown area during the day because of these delays.
Converting Main Street to a two-way street while also removing parking spaces does not seem practical. Our community does not need wider sidewalks nearly as much as it needs accessible parking. When I shop in Sebastopol, I give it only one chance: if I cannot find parking, it is faster and more convenient for me to drive to Santa Rosa or Rohnert Park instead. Removing parking will not attract new shoppers; it risks pushing more customers away.
On Petaluma Avenue, the proposal to make it two-way while expanding bike lanes raises additional concerns. If those changes are implemented, where will residents park? Such a change could seriously impact them.
It is unrealistic to expect that people will simply stroll through town to shop. A large portion of our residents are older and rely on driving to run errands, buy groceries, and conduct daily activities.
A more sensible solution would be to move bike lanes to a nearby side street, preserve existing parking, and restore an additional traffic lane to improve vehicle flow. It is also important to consider that several new housing developments (the Mormon Church property, the Catholic Church property, the lot above 7/11, those behind the O’Riley Building, the St. Vincent’s project, the Habitat for Humanity project, and the lot on Healdsburg Avenue) are currently underway. The increase in residents and therefore vehicles, will only add to the existing congestion and more need for parking.
For example, we enjoy dining at Campanella, but due to the lack of available parking, when the bike lane was added to Healdsburg Ave., we often choose not to go. People need accessible parking far more than underutilized bike lanes and wider sidewalks.
Please consider the real needs of your citizens and not dream an unrealistic dream of a walking downtown area.
Thank you,
Loretta Castleberry