On Your Side

Motorcycle shop concerned about new median

CREATED Jun. 24, 2012

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  • Jennifer Auh talks to workers at a motorcycle dealership concerned about the new medians on Fairview and Eagle Rd. hurting their business. Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com

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The workers and owner of a motorcycle dealer are telling us the changes on a nearby road are hurting their business.

From greeting customers to showing them products, Lynn Barnes conducts most of his business in the parking lot, instead of inside the shop.

Just across from the Snake River Yamaha dealership, orange cones cover the new medians on Fairview Avenue.

The owner of Snake River Yamaha emailed us about how that's created a new problem. He said drivers are speeding through the parking lot to avoid the median and to get to nearby businesses quickly.

“We've had quite the conflict with employees and safety of everybody here because we've had traffic using our parking lot like Fairview,” said Barnes.

Snake River Yamaha is now trying out a temporary solution. The owners of the business put up cones to remind drivers to just slow down.

“We would like the city to be involved in problem solving and brainstorming in order for us to do business continuously as we used to,” said Barnes.

 Idaho Transportation Department said drivers just need to become familiar with the median.

“A little bit of a learning curve as people get used to driving that area, but in the end, it will be a safety improvement,” said Reed Hollinshead, ITD Spokesperson.

The Ada County Highway District, the department in charge of the medians on Fairview, sent us this statement: "With regard to the traffic cutting through private parking lots, unfortunately this is a matter of driver behavior. We have no jurisdiction over private parking lots."

Snake River Yamaha will now try to reach out to the city of Meridian and other government agencies for help.  Barnes said the company has considered adding a gate or a speed bump.

In the meantime, Snake River Yamaha is open to any suggestions or possible solutions to their problem. You can reach Lynn Barnes at lbarnes@snakeriveryamaha.com.