Bicyclists often their own worst enemy

I read the Sunday article, "On The Bike Path" (Star-Advertiser, Insight). As someone who bikes myself, I cannot help but make a comment.

We are blessed to have a number of bike paths in Kailua. It would be best if bicyclists tried to ride on those streets. There is a bike path that goes through Kailua Beach Park. I often see bikers ignore this bike path and ride on the road from Kalapawai Store, around the park, and to the boat ramp.

I’m all about sharing the road when there is no alternative for bicyclists, but when there is a bike path, bicyclists should use it. I don’t care if they may have to weave around pedestrians; the bottom line is motorists should not have to weave around rude bicyclists who refuse to use the bike path.

Bicyclists are often their own worst enemies, and it’s no wonder motorists often have a bad impression of them.

Kevin Batey
Kailua

Freeway almost like a racetrack

Someone at the state Department of Transportation must watch NASCAR racing and, under the concept of "traffic pattern modification," now wants the people of Hawaii to drive the different tracks on the H-1 freeway.

After going through the Palama "s-turn" — Ewa-bound at 5:45 a.m., it’s still dark — I almost kissed the "Lady in Black of Darlington" via barriers that weren’t there before.

Further, I was waiting for the "Big One" of Talladega or Daytona to happen after driving three-wide in traffic, in very tight lanes at 50-plus miles per hour in the dark. I love NASCAR but I don’t like driving NASCAR-style on the freeways.

Audrey Hedani
Aina Haina

Politicians, do not fall for bad science

It looks like Hawaii politicians have not learned from history. Politicians who succumb to bad advice and the lack of evidence when writing laws may do harm without realizing it. A good example is the latest string of anti-agriculture bills like Bill 2491 and Bill 113.

Recall when President Franklin Roosevelt signed the order to intern Japanese-Americans at the will of public opinion? It caused unfounded paranoia and discrimination for decades. The same is happening here in our islands with biotechnology.

The very technology that may make the planet green and sustainable is being smeared by activists who can’t tell fact from fiction. Where’s the responsible leaders who use evidence? They prefer to align with the uninformed who have made no contribution to the world’s issues other than a protest.

Joni Kamiya Rose
Kaneohe

Quantity of voters is a form of quality

Gov. Neil Abercrombie told reporters, in the context of the same-sex marriage issue: "You don’t measure, you never measure, the quality or the content of testimony by numbers."

Quantity has a quality all of its own.In a democracy, we certainly want to avoid the tyranny of the majority, but we also must be watchful of the opposite: tyranny of the minority.

Gov. Abercrombie and all who are up for re-election next year better listen to the majority as well, and not discount their testimonies. The governor and Legislature need to develop marriage legislation that fully protects the interests of all parties — they are not there yet. It would be in the best interests of all, including those seeking re-election, to defer the vote on Senate Bill 1 until the next regular session.

Danny Melton
Waipahu

Marriage equality evokes much vitriol

As of Friday morning, more than 5,000 people had signed up to testify at the House hearings on Senate Bill 1.

Every legislator in the hearings knows the pros and cons of SB1. If they don’t have the information they need now, they will never have it.

Civil rights are not to be decided by the voters because the majority is not required to protect the rights of the minority. Our legislators, however, not only represent their constituencies but even more so, they are required by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights amendments to protect the rights of minorities.

Haven’t we heard enough hatred and vitriol from those who are against marriage equality? Are these the voters who want to decide on the rights of everyone in Hawaii? That’s frightening. Even more frightening is that their children are learning how to speak hatred and lies to get what they want.

The arguments have all been heard. They are wearing down our legislators and showing the rest of the world how spiritually and emotionally ugly Christians can be. Enough is enough.

The Rev. Elizabeth Zivanov
The Parish of St Clement, Makiki

Pundit exaggerated Sierra Club’s power

In his Oct. 29 column ("Environmental movement rises to power in Hawaii"), Richard Borreca quotes John Radcliffe: "At this moment in history, the Sierra Club is the most powerful lobby in Hawaii. Arguably more powerful today than Bishop Estate or Gary Rodrigues/UPW ever was."

Wow. If that were true, I imagine our most fertile agricultural lands in Central Oahu would be preserved instead of wholesaled for development; Hoakalei and Koa Ridge developments would be scaled back or not happen at all; plans for Laie and Turtle Bay would be considered in toto, not in piecemeal; infrastructure capacity would be considered in Kakaako before any high-rises are approved; the list is endless.

In general, accountability would be required for all developments. What a different island Oahu could be.

By the way, unlike developers, nonprofits like the Sierra Club have a limit on the amount of lobbying they are allowed by law to conduct: 20 percent versus sky’s-the-limit.

Rike Weiss
Niu Valley