Letters

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   HAVE YOUR SAY Feel strongly about something? Share it with the community by writing a letter to the editor. You’ll need to include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) We reserve the right to edit letters, but if you keep yours to 300 words or less, we won’t ask you to shorten it. If your letter is published, please wait 30 days before submitting another. Send it to: E-mail: letters@heraldnet.com Mail: Letters section The Herald P.O. Box 930 Everett, WA 98206 Fax: 425-339-3458 Have a question about letters? Contact Carol MacPherson (cmacpherson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3472).   Published: Thursday, July 24, 2008 BICYCLE RIDERS Transit driver has dangerous attitude The Tuesday letter, "They don't have any claim to rights" could be dismissed as pure ignorance except for the fact that the writer is "a professional transit driver." The fact of the matter is that bicycle riders do have rights, according to the Revised Code of Washington. We don't pay taxes to improve the road because a bicycle doesn't damage the road. We don't pay taxes on gasoline because bicycles don't consume gasoline and don't pollute. Finally, we don't pay insurance because any accident caused by us will result in our own harm, not someone else's. I know there are cyclists who don't follow the law, and I don't condone their behavior, but the same could be said for many of the motorists I encounter while on my bike. Considering that the majority of bicycle-automobile accidents are the fault of the motorist (Portland Transportation crash database 1998-2001), I find the writer's attitude decidedly "unprofessional" and, quite frankly, dangerous. Mark Papenhausen Mukilteo

1. Obama's birth stirs legal action in Washington 2. Boeing, union call off talks, no further negotiations set 3. Boeing-Machinists talks – a SPEEA scare tactic? 4. Lynnwood man arrested in sailor's kidnap, robbery 5. Drug court left in limbo 6. Investigators now almost certain fatal fire wasn't arson 7. Marysville house fire called suspicious 8. Teen sentenced for Lynnwood break-in attacks 9. Aspiring young actress shows what she can do 10. Former hoops star enjoying a new game: sitting volleyball 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Keeping Wall Street's woes from Main Street • Tickled pink • Timberwolves take down Knights 35-14 • Scots ride defense to upset win over Mavs • Mountlake Terrace kicker right on target • Teens read this week at Einstein Middle School • E-W parade winks at politics • Bus changes unsafe, some say • King's whips Wildcats to lead conference • Paine Field airline service strongly supported by 71 percent of web surv ... • Verizon launches FiOS TV in Washington State