Letter: Alternative ways to get arounde
latest on your teams
FILE PHOTO: In this December 2015 photo, Lakeland Mayor Howard
Wiggs, right, and Lakeland City Commissioners from left to right: Jim Malless,
Phillip Walker, and Edie Yates, take bicycles for a spin during the dedication
ceremony for Swan City Cycles, a public bike sharing program in downtown
Lakeland
The
Ledger
Posted
Apr 10, 2017 at 12:01 AM
We are fighting wars and other tragedies over petroleum. At home, we are fighting over coal, petroleum and methane, and how it affects national security, jobs, pollutes air, water and soil and the weather. Some of us argue for alternative such as transit, not automobiles. This means riding a bicycle or other human-powered device would be superior.
In
fact, replacing the automobile is so important we are oblivious that everywhere
that people park, their polluting automobiles are welcome and have the right of
way and alternative vehicles, such as a human-powered scooters, skateboards or
bicycles, are scrupulously banned.
I
know there is a logical approach. Have anyone who wants to use alternative
transportation attend a training session to learn how to ride at walking speed
or slower. The issue is these vehicles tend to move faster than pedestrians,
and the malls face a liability issue if human-powered vehicles are allowed.
Recently
I learned from Lakeland radio station WLKF AM1430 that Lakeland and several other
towns in Polk County rank as some of the select towns in Florida that scored
for healthiest, including bike lanes on public roads.
I
would like to see Lakeland and Polk County continue to set an example in health
and reducing petroleum dependence. I know we can set an example encourage
alternative transit.
Daniel Barker
6339 Egret Dr.
Lakeland, FL 33809-5652
863-815-4534 whipple1078@yahoo.com
