Wheels in motion against cyclists




I couldn’t believe what I was reading when I read last week’s “Eye On The Conejo.” I can’t believe The Acorn allowed Mr. Holt to use his weekly column to spew his personal hatred toward cyclists, which was the sole intent of his column.

Filled with lies and personal opinions that were stated as facts such as “Almost every major street has ‘undergone construction’ to accommodate them” (painting a white line hardly qualifies as “construction,” Mr. Holt) and “The per capita tax dollars that are spent on bicycle riders is incredible” (next time you make such a bold, matter-offact statement, please supply the numbers).

In one paragraph, Mr. Holt claims how today’s cyclists regularly violate the rules of the road, yet in another he claims he rarely sees a bicycle lane in use. Huh?

Mr. Holt goes on to claim that “road rage among bicycle riders is nearly epidemic.” No, Mr. Holt, road rage “directed” at cyclists riding 20-pound bicycles by arrogant, rude individuals driving their 4,000-pound SUVs is nearly epidemic.

Mr. Holt wonders if bike lanes are safe because a local dentist was killed by an elderly driver while riding in one a few years ago. Note to Mr. Holt: It was the doddering, elderly woman driver in the wrong, not the cyclist.

One more unsubstantiated claim is that “drivers are unaccustomed to seeing bike riders, and this, ironically, increases the likelihood of accidents.” No, once again, Mr. Holt, most drivers don’t look for bicyclists and motorcyclists. The number of “distracted drivers” is currently at epidemic numbers, which leads to the likelihood of accidents.

Slow down, pay attention to your driving, hang up the phone, stop texting and share the road should have been Mr. Holt’s message to his readers.

Matthew Toomey

Oak Park



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