Is SLO getting carried away with bike lanes — at the expense of parking? | Opinion

SLO’s going overboard on bike lanes

“Downtown SLO streets getting new type of bike lane” (sanluisobispo.com Dec. 5, 2021)

As a college town bike lanes are necessary. Also, many non-students in SLO ride bikes; often I see friends, local politicians and even Tribune reporters riding their bikes. Good for them!

However, we are getting a little carried away when we put bike paths through quiet neighborhoods along small (very narrow) streets. We are inviting trouble and tragedy, not to mention robbing local residents of parking spaces they have used for decades.

It seems the cries of the people have fallen on deaf ears at City Hall. Do our law enforcement officers have nothing better to do than enforce bike traffic lanes? Will City Hall listen when the inevitable conflict between car and bike happens?

The closure of space for vehicles, far from reducing pollution, will INCREASE pollution from residents having to jockey cars around the neighborhood and the constant stop-and-go of more cars in less space. The City Council should show some humility and admit their over-zealous plans are just too much for local residents to bear. —

Nancy White, San Luis Obispo

Care about climate? Stop flying!

“What will it take for us to act on climate change?” (sanluisobispo.com, Sept. 8, 2023)

I do not know the author, but I imagine we would get along, as I share the same concerns about climate change. The small actions suggested are all good ideas, as we must all do something to steer us from disaster. But I was struck that the writer has visited “her reef” every year for the last 15 years.

Unless they sailed, powered by wind, I expect they flew. Fifteen round trips by fossil-fueled jets created a huge amount of CO2 emissions that each passenger bears responsibility for. The vast majority of people never fly or travel far from home. Most people have less and live simpler lives, and are responsible for far fewer emissions than those who fly regularly, either for business or pleasure.

Most people of means are not willing to reduce their consumption and our capitalistic economy would not be pleased if they did. As Wendell Berry said, “We must all learn to live more simply.” Small lifestyle changes won’t cut it. Maybe next time, consider snorkeling closer to home.

Christine Mulholland, San Luis Obispo

Learn more about going all-electric

“How SLO County is poised to be a leader in clean energy and climate change action” (sanluisobispo.com, June 3, 2023)

My wife and I recently purchased electric bicycles. Not only are they a lot of fun to ride and great exercise, but they also take the hassle out of parking downtown.

Instead of having to roam the streets and parking garages looking for an open spot, we just ride up, chain up and that’s it. When we’re ready to leave, there’s no need to search for our car in some labyrinthine parking garage; we just hop on and we’re outta there.

The many advantages of going electric also apply to our homes and vehicles. Water boils twice as fast on an induction cooktop compared to a gas stove, with none of the indoor air pollution produced by gas heating. Since heat pumps can both cool and heat your home, they efficiently regulate temperatures year-round while curbing greenhouse gas emissions. A heat pump water heater is 2-3 times more efficient compared to a gas water heater, which means utility bills will be lower.

Discover all the money-saving incentives available when you start electrifying your life at the Electrify Your Life Expo, at the SLO library Thursday, Sept. 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. Join us in the electric future!

Don Gaede, San Luis Obispo

Time for a new generation of leaders

“Gavin Newsom wanted to stay out of the primary election fray. He failed spectacularly | Opinion” (sanluisobispo.com, Sept. 13)

Barbara Lee is 77 years old. It is time for a new generation; no more 80-year-old politicians, please. Period. Not as caretakers. Not as potentially viable candidates. Get your head out of the sand. This is a major critical issue right now.

There are wonderful 80-year-olds, but for general health and welfare reasons, including the overwhelming presence of various forms of dementia and normal, age-related mental issues are enough reason.

Can’t you find younger viable candidates to support?

Vickie Backman, San Luis Obispo

Short-term rental article got it wrong

“Do short-term rentals make housing less affordable in SLO County?” (sanluisobispo.com, Sept. 7)

Regarding your article, surely you’re not suggesting that anyone should take it seriously. When the chief lobbyist for vacation rentals conducts a “study” to prove that removing a significant portion of our housing stock from full-time occupancy doesn’t increase market rents or sales prices we should all just have a good laugh.

The premise is so ridiculous that you didn’t even bother to try to balance your reporting by seeing what housing advocates and experts think about those conclusions.

I’m sorry, but that article was a complete waste of the time it took to read it. I would urge you to consider such press releases with a more critical eye. And thank you for the opportunity to share my view.

Michael Byrd, Arroyo Grande

What was the point?

“SLO gym owner accused of planting hidden camera stalked woman for 2 years, she says” (sanluisobispo.com, Sept. 2, 2023)

Instead of Labor Day articles lauding workers, the front page of The Tribune’s Sept. 4 edition printed an article about a camera found in the bathroom of a local gym. This news, first reported on Aug. 30, asked readers with information to contact the police and was reprinted on Page 4 on Aug. 31.

On Sept. 1, a front-page article identified the gym owner’s name from a deleted Instagram post. On the front pages of Saturday/Sunday’s edition and Monday’s: “SLO gym owner accused of stalking woman for 2 years,” by Chloe Jones. She reported a detailed history of the owner for the past 20 years, although she admitted that his record had been expunged in 2018.

In fact, the incidents being revealed had happened in 2007. I challenge to what end and why The Tribune chose to publish the name of the gym, the owner’s name, and then his history when there appears to be no additional information from the police nor charges made. I suggest this approach to reporting is “yellow journalism” at its worst. This man has been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion under the guise of “news tips.”

L. Jeannette Davis, Los Osos