Let’s Just Ban All Bikes!

[Re: “Bike Wars,” by Ben Torter, published June 12.] 

Legally, pedicabs are allowed to ride on any crowded sidewalk in Miami Beach because bicycles are allowed on sidewalks, so let’s ban all bicycles on sidewalks just like every other civilized city in America does. To make matters worse, our world class-less city commissioners and FDOT have already agreed to post signs on Alton Road actually encouraging bicycles to ride on the sidewalk. This is a big mistake — it sets a precedent and allows a loophole for pedicabs and bicycles that will come back to bite us in the ass.

Gayle Durham
Miami Beach

Pedicabs Are Great, But Not on Sidewalks

[Re: “Bike Wars,” by Ben Torter, published June 12.] 

No one can argue that pedicabs provide a welcome green alternative to cars, buses, motorcycles and other polluting vehicles. The argument is simply that they do not belong on Lincoln Road or the sidewalks of Ocean Drive. There is not enough room, which makes them unsafe at any speed. Lincoln Road is a pedestrian mall, and I emphasize the word “pedestrian.” Even bicycles and skaters pose a hazard. As in other cities and countries, bicycles and pedicabs should be encouraged, but restricted to roadways and bike paths. I never saw a pedicab on the sidewalk in Coconut Grove.

Dr. Judi Levinson

Miami Beach

Remind City Officials Who Put Them There

[Re: “Bike Wars,” by Ben Torter, published June 12.] 

I just finished reading your article, and although I do not live in Miami, I am not at all surprised that city officials would try to squelch such an obviously great alternative to the ridiculously rising costs of gas. Why aren’t the city officials fighting the gas prices in their city half as vigorously as they are trying to put these beneficial companies out of business? Shouldn’t the city officials be concerned about the welfare of their constituents (i.e., more business to the South Beach areas from much happier tourists along with those constituents who live in Miami)? Along with the sensibility of low-cost, environmentally friendly vehicles and joyful tourists and locals, one would imagine that local businesses that receive a higher volume of business because of the easier access that pedicabs provide would get behind these pedicab providers and apply pressure to keeping them going. Do city officials really think that the people of South Beach are so ignorant that they do not know who is truly behind the efforts (taxis, limo services and gas stations)? I personally believe that if the people and businesses of South Beach were to fully get behind the pedicab owners to support their efforts and fight this obvious negative plight to continue high-priced cabs and ridiculous gas prices — which keep away tourism — the businesses in the area would definitely realize greater prosperity. It also would send a message to those wonderful city officials to remind them who put them in office, and who can either keep them there or replace them! I hope this message gets to the eyes and ears of those who can truly effect a positive outcome in this plight. After all, are we not still the country where anyone with any great idea can prosper as a free-thinking entrepreneur with a product that benefits us all? God Bless America!

Bernadette J. Mowatt

Tucson, Ariz.

Government Running ‘Afowl’

[Re: “Running ‘Afowl,’” by Angie Hargot, published June 12.]

Gov. Charlie Crist,

“Running ‘Afowl,’” the front-page feature story in the SunPost newspaper, exposes yet another waste of public monies and misuse of public trust. Beyond abuse of authority, we have another example of how the power of government is often used against the best interest of the general public’s health and welfare interests. Under the guise of “code enforcement,” a team of “Chicken Busters” has been formed to take chickens off the street. While claiming to raise funds for charity ($5 for a rooster or $4.50 for a hen), how much charity is there in charging a homeowner $250 dollars a day for harboring chickens? I wish there was that kind of zeal to remove dead animals from the street.

Beyond the obvious blatant case of discrimination (no other bird is treated like it was born for human consumption, with the plight of captivity until death), there is the reality that people living in cities do need some protection from emergency food shortages. 

When disaster cuts off food supplies from being trucked in to large metropolitan areas, money becomes irrelevant. There must be something edible maintained in reserve for such occasions as we see happening all around us. Instead of helping to maintain high food prices in the stores by limiting local access to food, the power and authority of government should be used to prohibit the poisoning of water and food supplies. Instead of planting trees and shrubs that have no benefit, or poisoning them to prevent consumption, fruit and vegetable plants could adorn our public grounds, without restriction for the public to enjoy. After a hurricane, so much effort and resources are spent to remove trees and limbs from the street, but the people don’t have a chance to use the wood for cooking fuel. Instead of diminishing a community’s resources, local government should be helping the community to invest in gainful projects that will increase independence, and recycling programs to reduce waste. 

Phillip G. Bradshaw

Miami