Letters to the Editor 08.13.26

On Two Wheels

I hope they can (“Can advocates make local streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers?” July 30-Aug. 5). I am a disabled senior using a mobility scooter. Three times last month, July 2026, I was nearly hit while in the middle of a crosswalk. Bob Hays | via social media

For almost two years, I rode through Carmel on my bike to get to work/home. A lot of drivers are becoming increasingly distracted and the danger for riders is growing exponentially as those drivers rely on autonomous vehicle aids to assist. I can’t even count the number of times a vehicle (mostly big trucks) flipped me off or even swerved at me for simply sharing the road. Ben Curtis | via social media

We moved here in large part for the cycling, but it’s no picnic out there. I’ve been hit on my bike by a distracted driver. I’ve avoided being hit more times than I can count – close calls all the time. So discouraging. Ryan James Miller | via social media

I would love to ride my bike more; however, fear of death or dismemberment prevents me from riding on most streets and keeps me on sidewalks. When are we going to be smart enough to get bike and pedestrian paths off roads with vehicular traffic? It’s vital if we want folks to really commute via bicycle.

I have an easy solution: Make every waterway an Active Transportation Pathway. Here’s the idea (and it’s not new): Almost every drainage ditch, creek and river already has a maintenance road next to it. Pave those roads and buy/pave a right of way next to the Salinas River all along the Salinas Valley to the coast (to connect to the Rec Trail). Utilize the Salinas Valley Recreation Trail for eco, ag, ranch, farm and wine tourism.

Until we can stop using very expensive out-of-town worthless freaking consultants to design worthless bike lanes in the middle of the street, and start thinking outside the box for real, safe bike/skate/pedestrian-friendly alternatives to mixing bikes and humans with large, deadly, fast-moving vehicles, we will never be able to cut down on car use. I would ride my bike daily if there were safe routes and if common destinations had bike lockers. Trish Sullivan | Salinas

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This is more great reporting from you (“Sand City’s dream of a bike path hits problems with parking and pricing,” July 30-Aug. 5). I can’t thank you enough for all of your great work.

I live in Oak Grove, a T10 paraplegic in a wheelchair, and that stretch into Sand City is a real barrier. Walter Hughes | Monterey

Bull Horn

This is just the tip of the iceberg. All roping and bull riding is abusive (“Video reportedly showing a bull being abused at Salinas Sports Complex sparks investigation,” posted Aug. 4). Do you think the animals enjoy any of it? Of course they don’t or they wouldn’t be trying to buck the rider and/or escape. The Salinas rodeo should go the way of bull fighting. It’s just torturing animals in the name of “fun.” That people enjoy dog fights, cock fights and rodeos is sick. Michael Marsh | Salinas

I for one am shocked that an event using animals as entertainment has been caught abusing animals. I hope this torturous tradition stops being normalized. Diana Lopez | Seaside

Tow Away

In time for Car Week! Thank God! Please enforce (“‘No Parking’ signage coming to Bixby Bridge,” posted Aug. 3). Marie Butcher | Monterey

This will make matters even worse, they’ll just stop in the middle of the roadway now. Jason Hoffman | Monterey

Traffic Jammed

MST bus drivers should all get a bonus for working during Car Week (“Pebble Beach Company and CHP strategize to avoid the ‘mess’ of last year’s Car Week,” Aug. 6-12). They deal with traffic problems for hours on end, day after day. Laurie Gibson | Seaside

Past and Present

I was especially impressed with two articles in the Weekly: John Murray’s story on how Salinas has turned the tide of violence (“A decade after Salinas was dubbed ‘the youth murder capital,’ a look back at an investigation that turned the tide of violence,” Aug. 6-12), and Agata Popęda’s report on the Golden State Theatre’s centennial (“Downtown Monterey’s entertainment hub, Golden State, turns 100 – with a nod to the past,” Aug. 6-12). Both articles covered important local history, things we should all know and care about. Thank you!

Oh, the Golden State really needs to repair the quaint and dilapidated women’s bathroom. Most of us just laugh and shake our heads when we use the facilities. But such a project might be beyond the reach of even Squid! Sharon Miller | Pacific Grove

Stuck in a Circle

It seems to me that lawsuits against the county and state over the Pajaro levee breach is just another reason for the levee to not exist anymore (“A settlement is on the horizon in multiple lawsuits filed in response to the Pajaro levee failure,” Aug. 6-12). You request the government to create a levee so you can farm more of the land and make more money. Then when it breaks you can claim you were wronged, and sue for more money. Peter Nowak | Castroville

No Go

That would have been unbelievably unsafe for the children (“Monterey City Council cancels quick-build intersection project following pushback,” posted Aug. 7). Jason Hoffman | via social media

Absolutely reprehensible (and yet predictable) behavior from Monterey High neighbors who put “neighborhood character and property values” ahead of student safety. Amanda Whitmire | via social media