Divergent Views

Letters to the Editor--lately anyway--epitomize such divergent views!

A letter in today's Morning Star, entitled Fuel Tax, is pretty darn interesting.
Taken together, the letter by Ms. Lissau, to which he refers--(but we have not reprinted)--gives an entire new meaning to drawing apart from a common point.

"Fuel Tax"
I feel like I need to respond to Julia Lissau's letter, "Think of it as a polluter-pay fee." 
What a pile of rubbish.

Once you take out all of the filler and rhetoric from this letter, you are left with the basic fats.  Ms. Lissau is ignoring the fact that not everyone "drives because they can."  Many people drive because they have to.  What about the aged, disabled and infirm?

"...start requiring bike licenses of $150 per bike per year and toll booths on bike paths of $1.50 each use."  W.Brunsdon

What about people who live a long distance from work, family and amenities?

What about people who commute between cities for work?  What about people who drive for a living?  What about mechanics, car salespeople and all of those whose employment is linked to vehicles?

If it is so important to build even more bike paths that will be used six or seven months out of the year, instead of repairing and maintaining the infrastructure we already have, then let bicycle riders pay for it.

Let's start requiring bike licenses of $150 per bike per year and toll booths on bike paths of $1.50 each use.  We could fine those without helmets and put the money toward a true bike utopia.

I know, let's tax spandex shorts.

A fine for all those riding a bike anywhere other than a designated bike path.

All of the above funds to be returned once the global average temperature drops 0.75 degrees over a 20-year span if that drop can be attributed to people riding their bikes.

Clearly the above is over the top, but so is asking people who drive to pay for your hobby.

I think bike paths are fine but not one dime should be spent on them from public funds until all of the roads in Vernon are returned to a reasonable safe state of repair.

Potholes ruin tires and the tires then need to be recycled.  Swerving to avoid potholes crates danger.

As to raising the gas tax, think about the big picture and everyone, not just yourself, before you start to pontificate about how you, as a bike rider, somehow hold the moral high ground."

        Ward Brunsdon



"I'm all for taxing spandex shorts," attests Kia, and adds, "that's what creates the real divergent views, especially from the rear!"