[*BCM*] Fwd; copy of letter to the edito of the North Shore Salem News of Salem Mass

[walachp at aol.com]

To all at Boston Critical Mass,
           I had written an article for the Salem News Salem Mass Dec 21, 2005 as Letter to the editor, regarding my supportive position for abandoned rail beds to be used as bike paths. There was one person a John Toomey who  opposed it as a letter to the editor on Dec 28, 2005 page B6 Electronically I don't subscribe to the Salem News, but I do get their paper edition. 
           The following is a response by what I call a Neandertal Road worrier, John Toomey. 
           I wish I could of joined you at Copley, but I work nights. Some nights I do have the opportunity to go in to start my shift at 7:00pm. SO I will plan such a paticipation in the near future. 
            Please read the following fwd response.
 
           by Paula Walach
 
To the Editor,
               It seems like Mr. John Toomey of Danvers is saying that crime follows me around when I'm riding my bicycle. Hmmm. Re;Edition Dec. 28, 2005 "True, but create a bike highway in Danvers for me to use and society follows with its crime". Well ! excuse me for breathing car/bus/pickup truck/SUV exhaust fumes while I share the road with such other vehicles. Has Mr. Toomey have the statistics on what kind of crime follows the automobile and those other previously mentioned vehicles, that I'm compelled to share the road with? And I would suggest including road rage as a crime as well, which is everywhere these days including on the roads near the proposed bike paths in Danvers. 
              Every year I go up to the City of Montreal, just to enjoy the endless miles of bike paths in and out of the city. Some of them are actually located on abandoned rail road spurs. But for the most part they are the most pleasing because they lead to picnic areas where whole families on bikes can enjoy a nice day without the hassle of the automobile and traffic, and road rage. Just think a park for bikes only, as well as posted speed limits for the bicyclist in some areas.  Also those bike paths are well lit and lead into condo subdivisions and even by the back yards of some affluent neighborhoods. Some are blocked in such a way that motorized vehicle cannot get on them very well. I guess that is their method of traffic calming. I have ridden them at night with out fear, because they are well maintained and patrolled. That is Canadian culture. Yes, they do have crime but I've yet to here of such events on their bike paths, and I listen on a daily basis at home to a Montreal English talk radio station CJAD <CJAD.COM> the web. Above all how much does crime costs per capita, bicycle riding vs motorized automobile travel?
           I love riding my because;
                  bikes don't eat the ozone
                  bikes don't kill thousands of people yearly
                  bike riding is great exercise
                  biking makes you part of your neighborhood 
                  bikes don't fill up the land fills as fast as cars. (My Schiwnn is over twenty years old)How much energy does it take to destroy a rusted out car/SUV?
                  bikes don't cost $2.09plus per gallon to fuel
                  bikes don't contribute to noise pollution or waste heat even from environmentally friendly fuels.
                        BIKES ARE FUN!
                             
                        Paula Walach-Industrial electrician
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