Halloween is approaching and soon more than 500 robots, knights, witches, wonderwomen, princesses, pirates, goblins, ghosts, aliens and angels will come to our Bayview-Mountainview neighborhood to trick-or-treat in one of Homer’s most cherished annual traditions. But so, too, comes an increasing amount of traffic. With no sidewalks or even shoulders on the road, families walk in and among a snarl of cars and trucks. Drivers find few places to park. Residents are trying to get home, while other drivers are slowly following their trick-or-treaters down the road.  There have been accidents, and there have been many near misses. 

This year our neighborhood will try something new to streamline traffic and provide a safer space for trick-or-treaters on foot. Mountainview and East Bayview will become “Halloween One-Ways” from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 31.  Cars will flow east on Mountainview (access from Main Street) and  West on Bayview (access from Kachemak Way).

The lane closed to cars will be a pedestrian lane from 5-8 p.m., with exceptions made for residents trying to navigate home during those hours. An overwhelming number of neighborhood residents support the idea, as does the Homer Police Department, which works very hard to keep our community safe on Halloween. 

Be aware of the change and plan accordingly. Help spread the word. Consider visiting the neighborhood on foot. In years past, trick-or-treating families have parked at the high school, in town or on side streets rather than add to the traffic. The Calhoun Trail is a fantastic entrance to the neighborhood. A safer place for kids on foot will make the evening more enjoyable for all: resident and visitor, motorist and pedestrian, goblin, ghoul, panda bears and kittycats too. 

Email halloweenoneway@gmail.com with questions or to help. 

Happy haunting,

Adele Person Groning