Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for June 12, 2024

E-bike restrictions must keep all path users safe

I agree with the recently published letter by Mary Neilan, whose brother died after a collision with someone on an electric-assist bicycle. I applaud the efforts by California and Marin to promote e-bike safety. However, like Neilan, I know 10- to 15-year-olds are not the only safety concern.

As a bike commuter and avid runner, I have had several close calls with adults who appeared to be riding class 1 e-bikes on paths. They did not indicate they were approaching and did not leave enough space for passing. I’ve also seen people doing high-speed wheelies for long distances along the path. All that behavior is unsafe.

I believe the speed and weight of these bikes makes them dangerous for pedestrians and other bikers, as well as for the riders themselves.

I think Marin should require registration for all electric vehicles that go faster than 15 mph and training (for a mandated certification), regardless of age. This would include an online course and in-person assessment. Both of these processes could be run through bike shops or other knowledgeable entities in Marin, which would charge a fee for this service.

Marin should also ban class 2 and class 3 e-bikes from all paths unless there is not a reasonable alternative. I think a “reasonable alternative” would be a road with a bike lane or a road with a speed limit of no more than 25 mph.

It is only a matter of time before other injuries and deaths occur involving e-bikes. I hope Marin goes beyond what is currently proposed in order to restore safety to our bike paths. As early adopters of new cycling innovations, Marin is in a great position to influence how communities across the country can safely adopt e-bikes.

— Sharra Weasler, Kentfield

Teen hit mark with call for antiracist behavior

I want to thank Myles McManus for his recently published letter about opposing racism. McManus, a high school student, shared how he took the message of Ibram X. Kendi (author of “How to Be An Antiracist”) to heart after he and his classmates met with Kendi in a video conference. I was impressed by his description of how harmful microaggressions and racist jokes are.

McManus added that students of color often face implicit biases and systemic barriers that hinder economic and social success. I appreciated his point that not acting racist isn’t enough. It’s important to actively oppose racism and to call out any racism we witness. I appreciate the courage this requires.

Racist behavior causes all of us to lose out, not just the obvious victims. Try to imagine what our world would be like without the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen, Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta or Maria Tallchief. What if racist behavior prevented fun celebrations like Juneteenth, Cinco de Mayo or Chinese New Year? What if racism had stopped our society from understanding the beauty of jazz, soul or Klezmer music?

Unfortunately in Marin, not all of us get to chat or share meals often with neighbors from other cultures. When we don’t get to know people, some tend to think they are “different and dumb,” as opposed to different and interesting. Our neighbors should be people we are excited to learn from.

Marin parents, I hope you will listen to McManus and make sure your children do the same.

— Barbara Rothkrug, Mill Valley

Small, easy changes make difference for the world

Even in areas where awareness of climate change is high, I find that some people still are not always motivated to make changes in their lives. What truly motivates people to change is not fear, but rather positive emotions, value-based living, making new habits simple (as well as easy) and financial incentives.

For example, beef eaters could cut their daily carbon footprint in half my passing on it for that day. While eliminating all meat or becoming vegan sounds extreme to some, skipping it one day is doable for most. Reducing red meat can also save money and, for those motivated by health benefits, can decrease the risks of heart disease and colon cancer.

Another easy thing to do is bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. When picking up takeout food, we should decline plastic utensils or straws when offered. Less plastic waste keeps our wildlife safer.

Studies show that reducing food waste can decrease up to 8% of all human caused greenhouse gas emissions. Putting food scraps in the green bin keeps them out of landfills, where they can create methane.

Supporting local farmers’ markets can help reduce waste. Some of the food there is less expensive than at an organic market. It is fresher, which should mean it lasts longer, and, without packaging, you can buy as much or as little as you like.

Ideally, everyone can make changes to help our planet, but if those who are more financially privileged could make greater changes, this could help offset some of the inequality. We don’t need to be perfect or aim for impossible goals. Making small changes as individuals can have a ripple effect through the power of ideas and numbers. What you do today makes a difference tomorrow. As a teenager here in Marin, that means a lot to me.

— Aurora DeVilbiss, Greenbrae

D-Day survivors should motivate all Americans

During last week’s 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, I watched a video of some survivors returning to the site of the Normandy landing on French soil. They ranged in age from 96 years old to 104. That 96-year-old was 16, as was I, the year our troops landed in the face of German gunfire coming at them as they floated up to their landing spot.

I hope all of you will stop and think about what it must have been like to jump into the water, head toward the beach (with big packs on their backs), guns in hand and bullets raining from all around. They saw friends fall, but couldn’t stop to help. They had to keep going up the beach.

Think of the sounds that were coming at them. Not just gunfire, but screams of pain and calls for help. They had to move forward.

What were they thinking at the time? One of the men said, “You didn’t think, you just moved”.

Please remember, without their courage, scared as they were, they pressed on. If not, there was a very real possibility that Germany was going to conquer England. If England surrendered, we believed the United States would be next. Those old guys still remember and believe in the reasons why they fought for our freedoms.

I am concerned that the way of life they fought for is under attack again now as the November election approaches. If we value their sacrifices we need to be willing to protect our freedoms at the ballot box. We need to be willing to volunteer in some campaign to be sure we have informed voters.

It’s not a lot to ask of each of us these days. What can you do to protect our freedom?

— Gladys C. Gilliland, San Rafael

Huffman must do more for tule elk, other animals

I am writing in response to Johan Broen’s recently published letter to the editor. I was particularly interested in Broen’s wish for Rep. Jared Huffman to help protect animals by voting against any version of the farm bill that does not include the full text of Goldie’s Act and the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act.

From my perspective, these are bipartisan bills that will help protect dogs and horses from extreme cruelty.

Unfortunately, Huffman is the same local elected official who expressed support for cattle ranchers in the Point Reyes National Seashore. He did so despite what I think is obvious danger to the tule elk.

Considering that, I would be surprised to see him prioritize more protection for dogs, equines or farm animals. I suspect it is because those animals in need of more protections are not voters.

— Paula Bakalar, San Rafael