by Nikki Silverstein
Hero: Thumbs up to the Footpeople for taking on the cyclists who terrorize hikers, equestrians and dogs on Marin’s open space trails. The Footpeople, an advocacy group, released a report calling for better enforcement of the bike laws and an improved tracking system for violations. Rogue and dangerous mountain bikers are certainly a minority of the cyclists on the trails, yet ask most folks on two legs if they’ve had a close call with a two-wheeler and you’ll know it’s a fairly common occurrence. With almost 16,000 acres of land in the Marin Open Space District, there’s plenty of room for all law-abiding users. Let’s take the Footpeople report to heart and slap the handcuffs on the cyclists jeopardizing the safety of everyone on the trails.
Zero: Is the Sausalito City Council cowered by 20 letters? Bill Hess of Greenbrae is appalled that council members recently reversed course about heavy fines for cyclists parked illegally in Sausalito. “Maybe other people engaging in illegal activities can get their friends to write letters to the Sausalito City Council to get them not to fine their activities,” Hess said. (Imagine all of the fun. Run naked in the downtown fountain. Use the seal statue as a water slide. Block off Caledonia Street to tourists.) “These must have been very powerful letters,” Hess said. And, he wonders whether there is an intimate relationship between the council and cyclists. We think the council is cowered, not by cyclists, but by the wrath of the businesses catering to tourists on bikes.
Got a Hero or a Zero? Please send submissions to
ni***************@ya***.com
.
