A heads-up on trail is appreciated

My wife and I are regular Olympic Discovery Trail bike riders. We have been experiencing a recurrent problem with bike riders not clearly signaling their approach. Some bikers actually fly past silently without any warning at all, some call out “on your left,” and others ring their bell.

Based on 12 years of riding experience, we have found the humble handlebar bell provides the best warning.

The human voice does not sound like an alarm like a bell does. A ringing sound from a bell is a clear warning because it is a louder sound and it travels farther. The human voice is much more subtle and unclear. The verbal “call-outs” are less clear, easily ignored or just not understood.

Quite a number of trail users suffer from hearing impairments and need all the extra notice a bell provides. Small children and pets can also benefit from the bell sounds for added safety.

We have also noticed the faster and more high tech bikes are the less likely they are to have a bell on their handlebars. E-bike users in particular most often ride without a bell. A bell only cost $5-$10.

John Konrath

Sequim

Get involved with your Sequim schools

Dear Sequim retirees (and others without children at home),

I’m writing as someone who’s worked in our public schools for many years and is raising young children.

There are many positives about living in a retirement community, but one challenge is that most people aren’t directly connected to the schools. Recent election results underscore this disconnect. Right now, we desperately need you to do your homework and help our young children in several important ways.

First, a summary of our unhealthy situation: We’ve had multiple lawsuits against school district leaders regarding harassment. We’ve had five superintendents in five years. An interim superintendent resigned unexpectedly during a time of upheaval on our school board.

We thought our newest superintendent would steady the boat and rebuild trust, but instead she capsized the boat with a major and unpopular restructuring of schools despite many pleas of opposition from teachers and parents and despite evidence that the change won’t help students or save any money.

(Having worked as an administrator, I’m convinced the real reason for the reconfiguration was simply administrative preference.)

Here’s how you can help: Attend school board meetings (Zoom option is always available). In November, vote for new school board members who will get us on a healthy track. Please vote for levies and bonds in future elections. And please come volunteer in our schools now that the pandemic is over.

Healthy schools are wonderful for students, parents, and teachers. They also help retirees by attracting high-quality healthcare providers and other professionals to Sequim.

David Updike

Sequim

Time to fix delays at the Hood Canal Bridge

I recently noticed three-mile line of cars delayed on each side of the Hood Canal Bridge because of a small sailboat. I’m suggesting that Washington state’s Department of Transporation and Washington state representatives consider another agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard to limit Hood Canal Bridge openings for recreational pleasure craft to specific times of the day. This would avoid morning and evening commute times and allow professional trade and resupply to be able to count on their travel times to their destinations on the Olympic Peninsula.

Of course, the span must always be opened for commercial, U.S. Navy or other Department of Defense vessels. The goal would be to minimize span openings for recreational vessels.

Publish the pleasure craft fixed opening option times and require them to wait for openings during those times. There is plenty of room on each side of the bridge for pleasure craft to anchor awaiting the next opening.

The imbalance in people’s time delays at this bridge is way too much in favor of small pleasure craft.

Consider the carbon footprint and time savings for the many vehicles who would then not be delayed in their travels. The EPA estimates that 100 cars idling for an hour would emit about 400 pounds of carbon dioxide. Consider this contribution to global warming.

Charles Pugh

Sequim