.Opinion September 28, 2016

Read the latest letters to the editor here.

Bike Friendly?

Santa Cruz will never be “bicycle friendly.”

I’m an experienced cyclist/commuter with over 85,000 miles logged on my bikes, but I’m about ready to hang it all up.

So long as a rider has to depend on all the drivers to make no mistakes and behave predictably each and every day, it will remain dangerous to be a bicyclist. We always get the worst of any bike/car interaction.

In addition to abysmal road maintenance and near-universal disregard of the recent three-foot rule for passing us, we have to contend with car doors being flung open suddenly in our path, cars turning abruptly in front of us and—very dangerous—the still-common practice of using a cellular phone while driving. Folks, put those things in your trunk before you get in your car.

The crowded, near-gridlock traffic on the afternoon commute leads to frustrated drivers, flaring tempers and chances taken which can easily kill or maim us cyclists. The most recent event which occurred to me was on backed-up Soquel Drive near Soquel Avenue when a driver, tired of waiting, I suppose, decided to turn into a driveway toward a business without warning.

There was no possible way I could have avoided being struck—there was no time to react, it was so fast—but he stopped with centimeters to spare. Whether he saw me or not, I’ll never know.

It does not seem to matter how many lights you have or that you follow the rules of the road.  

Now it is that time of the year that I see the drivers shading their eyes to the rising sun; it’s all the more risky.

I wish I had a solution, but at least ditch the cell phones when behind the wheel.

Pureheart Steinbruner | Aptos

Bike Friendly

It takes me only five minutes more to ride my electric bike to and from work than if I drove my car. When riding my E-bike I go through two stoplights. When driving my car, I go through 11! I feel very safe riding my bike to and from work due to the access of Arana Gulch.

I look forward to future improvements in our transportation system. Measure D will give us better roads, speed up emergency response, improve safety for children walking and bicycling near schools, expand safe bike routes, maintain senior and disabled transit services, improve traffic flow on highways and reduce dangerous neighborhood cut-through traffic, improve our commuting issues, and give the community better access to our bus system. As a former bus rider of five years, I enjoyed using the system, but there is room for improvement. I look forward to more and improved transportation options in the near future. Please join me in voting Yes on Measure D.

Joanne Noce, RN | Santa Cruz

Thought for Food

It seems like there is always some special observance around the corner. There is even a World Day for Farmed Animals. It’s observed, fittingly, on Oct. 2 (Gandhi’s birthday). It’s intended to memorialize the tens of billions of animals abused and killed for food around the world.

My first instinct was to dismiss it. But, I wanted to understand the impact of my diet and my food dollars on others.

Recent undercover investigations showed male baby chicks suffocated in plastic garbage bags or ground to death, laying hens crowded into small wire cages, injured pigs killed by slamming their heads against the concrete floor, and cows skinned and dismembered while still conscious.

As theologians debate whether there is life after death, I wondered whether these animals have a life before death, and why I should subsidize these barbaric practices.

I wonder no more, as I have now embraced a plant-based diet—green and yellow veggies, legumes, fruits, nuts, and some grains. Occasionally, I indulge in nut-based cheese or ice cream. Although I was motivated by compassion for animals, I have since learned that my diet is also great for my health and for the health of our planet.

Preston Daniels | Santa Cruz

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BEACHY CLEAN
Prior to its most recent cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 17, Save Our Shores unveiled a new piece of technology to help in the effort. The nonprofit now has a phone application that reduces paper waste, letting people digitally document what they find and even organize impromptu cleanups. SOS gave awards out for the biggest trash collectors of items like cigarette butts.