Attitude, not cyclists, creates the danger

In his letter ("Bicyclists must also follow road rules," Feb. 18), Rex Bennett incompletely quoted O.R.S. 814.430 (improper use of lanes; exceptions).

True, the statute does state that bicycles travel "as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway," but it does not define practicable.

There are many cases when the right side of the road is unsafe, and this statute accommodates for that.

Mr. Bennett should read and understand the entire law, and not do us the misfavor of only quoting the parts that suit his purpose. He might also try riding a bike for a few trips on these same roads so that he might see how close to the right is practicable for him.

I strongly recommend that all cyclists follow the laws and share the roads with other users. It is best to be prudent and careful with our lives and those of others.

Mr. Bennett's letter implies that he would rather hit cyclists with his vehicle than change lanes to avoid such a collision. One always has the option to slow down if it is unsafe to use the other lane.

I might ask, has he forgotten that he has a brake pedal?

Does he feel better now that he has threatened people with bodily harm? Menacing (O.R.S. 163.190) and harassment (O.R.S. 166.065) are both serious crimes, and his letter implies he would not be averse to either.

It is drivers with this attitude who make the roads dangerous, not cyclists like me.

Wendy Byrne, Corvallis

Lots of considerate motorists, bicyclists

As cycling season starts to heat up, it seems that the rhetoric between some motorists and cyclists does as well.

This is unfortunate, because the vast majority of confrontations seem to be caused by relatively simple misunderstandings.

By law, we all have a right to the roads and an obligation to follow the rules, even if some people don't like bikes and some don't like cars.

We all pay taxes. Although there are vehicle use fees, most road funding is provided for by general taxes, property assessments, and the like. Besides, few cyclists don't also drive cars.

To be certain, being held up behind a bicycle can be annoying.

But how often do you get stuck behind someone who insists on turning left across a busy lane of traffic rather than continuing to a light or holding up an entire line of cars to wait for a parking spot?

Anyone who drives into blind corners and other situations faster than he can react will eventually encounter a line of vehicles stopped for construction/accident, a kid running out to get a ball or on a bike, large debris, farm equipment, someone turning out of a driveway he didn't know was there, or a number of other common situations.

Likewise, anyone who regularly blows through lights and stop signs on a bicycle will eventually cause an accident.

As good luck would have it, there are a lot of considerate drivers and cyclists out there who practice defensive driving/cycling.

Kyle Banerjee, Monmouth

Let's talk solutions, not debate science

John Jones ("Climate change has occurred in the past," Letters, Feb. 15) is correct that ethanol, at least as presently manufactured in the U.S. from corn, is an inefficient response to climate change.

He continues, however, to peddle myths about climate science. Let's set the record straight on a couple of these myths.

First, it is simply not true that the occurrence of natural climate change in the pre-industrial past implies that present warming is natural or should be ignored.

All climate scientists do know about natural climate change. In fact, the records of CO2 and other indicators of climate change over more than half a million years confirm our understanding that current rapidly rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere and ocean, undeniably due to fossil fuel combustion, will significantly warm the planet.

Second, as already explained by Dudley Chelton in a Feb. 11 letter to the G-T, the strong El Nino in 1998 provided a short spike in global averaged temperature on top of the longer-term trend of rising temperature.

These spikes will continue. Some short-term cooling will follow major volcanic eruptions, and short-term warming will occur in El Nino years. But, averaged over several years, temperatures will rise significantly from the CO2 contribution to the greenhouse effect.

If Mr. Jones' primary concern with global warming is actually with the cost of society's responses to it (such as poorly conceived ethanol production), then he should debate solutions rather than science. We would then be engaging in a productive discussion.

Laurence Padman, Corvallis

Hillary has stood tall for children, families

What will it take for women to speak up? What is going on? The Republicans are choosing an ill-tempered man who showed us he is no gentleman.

Barack Obama has only three years in the Senate and has the audacity to think a man, even a black man, can defeat an experienced woman.

Sen. Hillary Clinton is a lady. Always has worked for children and families. She cares. She will help to make us stand tall in the eyes of the world.

If she takes advice from a past successful president, good for us.

Just remember the advice Bush was getting from mean old Karl Rove.

June Burke, Corvallis