Kudos to OvaJean Siemens for ­stating it “like it is” in her column about the upcoming back-in parking in downtown Southern Pines (Aug. 17).

It seems incredible to me that the powers-that-be would even consider the change when we see so many ­drivers who have difficulty backing out of a parking space into a street as wide as two parking spaces.

Now these same drivers are expected to back into a narrow space with a car parked on either side. I predict increased accidents and increased damage to parked vehicles, with all the ensuing hassles.

In addition, in his Aug. 21 front-page story, Ted Natt Jr. he states that ­drivers in other cities that have tried back-in parking have had trouble adjusting.

Visitors and tourists in Southern Pines have enough trouble adjusting to the “yield to the left” through ­downtown, and now you want to add this change, plus a bike lane?

For the safely of the cyclist, why would the town council have a bike lane on the busiest commercial streets in downtown, when a much quieter Ashe Street is only one or two blocks away?

It seems to me that the proposed changes will discourage, rather than encourage, shopping in downtown Southern Pines.

Siemens stated that she had been told that her opinion was the first ­negative feedback that had been received. Perhaps that is because when word started circulating about the possibility of back-in parking, no one thought the city government would seriously consider the change.

Now that the public and the downtown business owners know, opinions are being expressed. Will the Southern Pines Town Council listen?

Gladys Wade

Whispering Pines