E-bikes’ speed makes bad situation worse
Speaking as a (former) bicycle and pedestrian advocate/activist and participant in the Safe Routes To School Program, I believe the writer of a recent letter to the editor (“Without e-bikes, how will students get to school?” July 10) is misguided on a couple of accounts. Children have walked to schools for centuries, though in more recent times too many parents drop off and pick up their students ostensibly “driven” by unfounded abduction fears. But e-bikes are not the solution to a systemic funding problem. Foremost, e-bikes are inherently dangerous, especially when driven by inexperienced and juvenile drivers. I see all kinds of unsafe behaviors daily by kids on these bikes. Moreover, the writer would prefer children to use overpowered motorized bikes on dark streets without sidewalks when the low-tech scooter — low to the ground, easily dismountable and most importantly, at less dangerous speeds — is the superior option, even over bicycling. E-bikes will only make a bad situation worse, as evidenced by the recent spike in emergency room visits. In closing: speed kills.
Read more Guest commentary: I never believed Ernest Suggs killed my mom. Don’t execute him
— William Shallcross, Longwood
E-bike riders should have licenses
Is a ban on e-bikes necessary?
Long before the digital age, a small city of 50,000 where I grew up, required license plates for bicycles. To receive a license, we kids had to learn how to give hand signals when we planned a turn in order to alert others. We had to have a light on our bikes and also rear reflectors. We were taught that we must obey all traffic signals and stop signs, and we were told it was safest to walk our bikes across major intersections. This instruction was delivered in the schoolyard.
I see no reason to ban e-bikes since that is the modern form of transportation. But I think they should be licensed and children should be taught how to use them properly. They need training. They need education and I that’s what schools are all about.
— Kathy Kennedy, Orlando
Tax proposal would hurt libraries and more
How typical of Tallahassee — don’t address the problem issue, but create another dialogue. Property insurance has been an issue for the past few years. “But let’s address taxes instead.”
I hope that all those folks who think they will save money do the math. We could save more annually with an insurance reduction than the tax proposal.
In Osceola County alone, the libraries will lose a projected $2.1 million in funding the first year if this proposal passes. Those of you who think our libraries need enlarging — that won’t happen.
Read more Best blanket for summer camping
I urge you to read the proposal — not just the ballot description — before you make up your mind.
— Camille Levee, St. Cloud
Camille Levee is the president of the Osceola County Library Advisory Board.
Musk should go to Mars to stay
Elon Musk predicted SpaceX would send humans to the moon and Mars in the next five years. He should take the first mission to the moon and then go to Mars and stay there. Really!? With his first trillion dollars he doesn’t have anything else to spend it on?
Also, how many billions of dollars has he gotten from our government to fund his little foray to Mars? Those are our taxpayer dollars paying for his ambition. How many homeless people has he helped get counseling and housing during his time trying to get to the moon and launching satellite after satellite? None that I have heard of.
Just thinking about the good he could do with a few hundred billion dollars to get people housing and counseling is disgusting to me. He is not a role model for anyone; he is a role model for selfish ambition. Please, go to Mars and stay there as soon as possible.
— Joy Putnam, Daytona Beach
You can submit a letter to the editor by sending it by email to [email protected] or by filling out the form below. Letters are limited to less than 250 words and must be signed (no pseudonyms nor initials).You must include your email address, address with city and daytime phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length.
Read more How to keep your energy bill low despite being home all summer
← Back