The current state of affairs on Bank Street is just silly and closing it permanently will make it worse.  I walk through here often during the work day to get from Broad Street to Shockoe.  I'm embarrassed for our city/Commonwealth when I see tourists walking around this makeshift, Cold War Era gate, and silly concrete balls.  It is not imposing (if that was their intent, they failed), it's just stupid, unnecessary, and ugly.  I never see any legislators walking through here.  Indeed, when the ridiculous parking garage and underground tunnel are built on 9th street, they have no reason to ever be down here!  More importantly, why would it be closed all year when the General Assembly is only in session for a short portion of it? This a major thoroughfare for pedestrians, tourists, and bikers, and it would be shameful to close it permanently. 

What was the purpose in opening it anyhow years back and going through the effort of changing the traffic patterns on 9th?  Gosh, I bet it was to ease traffic flow around the Capitol and make a safe place for bikers to get around it. I would also imagine that Bank Street is property of the City, not the state, and residents of the city should therefore be allowed to use it.  Where do you suggest that bikers go if they can't access Bank Street? It turns into a one way street, so they can't go down 9th?  I guess this means they have to use Broad, which is completely unsafe with the pace and volume of traffic and the bus lanes.  Cary is also a terrible option, as it is dangerous, and it turns into cobblestones.

Please reject these short-sited, entirely unnecessary regulations.