Here is a scenario that might help Peter Sherwood (author of a
recent column against traffic calming) feel more sympathy for his
neighbors down the hill who are seeking relief from the danger and
noise caused by speeding cars and trucks on Camino Cabra.

Suppose that through some great feat of engineering, a tunnel was bored
through Moon Mountain connecting Wilderness Gate Road and Upper Camino
Cruz Blanca (Mr. Sherwood's street) with Old Taos Highway. He would
find that the morning quiet and crisp air he enjoys has been destroyed
by thousands of cars a day -- hundreds every hour -- taking this faster
route downtown. This is what has happened to Camino Cabra over the
years as this old winding goat trail was paved, connected to Camino
Cruz Blanca, and turned into a thoroughfare.

The problem is compounded by the parade of loud, diesel-belching
construction trucks heading for building sites in Wilderness Gate,
Ponderosa Ridge, Ocaso del Sol, Upper Cruz Blanca,  and other foothills
subdivisions. With each new house comes more cars joining Mr. Sherwood
on the daily commute through our neighborhood into town. Upper Cruz
Blanca already has speed humps. What is so objectionable about letting
us have them too?

Just as unneighborly are a few residents of Los Miradores, the
condominium complex by St. John's College, who are trying to mobilize
their membership to outvote us on traffic calming for lower Cabra. (Los
Miradores has speed humps on its private drives and large walls to
block out traffic noise.) Finally there is the couple who lives along
the river at the far, quiet end of Upper Canyon Road but publicly
opposes letting their neighbors have traffic humps farther down,
including one at the dangerous curve by Manderfield School.

We're hopeful that our many fellow residents in Los Miradores,
Wilderness Gate, and Santa Fe Canyon will not be swayed by the
anti-social sentiments of a few. The key to community is empathy for
others, even those whose problems you are fortunate enough not to
share.

George Johnson and Nancy Maret