Q: One of your recent articles reminded me of the final stages of preparing my kids for their drivers’ license test. It included drives on narrow, winding roads that are heavily used by bicyclists. The goal was to teach patience and help them understand the amount of clearance needed to keep bicyclists and oncoming motorists safe.
I used Wildcat Canyon Road and Pinehurst Roads in Contra Costa County for my daughter. My son got a longer test via Mines Road and State Route 130 to the Lick Observatory. After visiting the observatory, he fell asleep for the ride home!
Don Mahoney
A: How did some of the rest of you help your new drivers become road savvy, adaptable to different driving conditions?
When Matt-the-Roadshow-Son needed to get a long drive in soon before he took the driving test, Mrs. Roadshow had him drive on a trip to Muir Woods. This also gave him the experience of driving over the Golden Gate Bridge. He, too, was ready to ride on the drive home.
Q: Your scolding of state legislators for not allowing the use of speed cameras is misplaced (April 11 column). Every year this comes up and the police unions lobby against it. They give various reasons but, basically, they view this as a job killer. They want a uniformed, union dues-paying officer doing this work, not some camera. And in Sacramento, the unions get what they want. Until the police unions change their position, sadly, this is going nowhere.
Tom Darby, San Jose
A: You’re right. Police have been a big obstacle to getting this program tested. It could save lives, however, and could free them up to do other police work.
Q: My daughter and I are both terrified of driving Highway 17, which is why, along with my 80-year mark coming up soon, I don’t drive anymore. We will commission Uber for trips out of small-town Felton from now on.
Tim Bowden, Felton
A: Uber sounds like a good option for you.
Q: It’s the most frustrating thing, arrogant drivers who do not pull over when there are faster cars behind.
Guy Davis, Oakland
A: Many agree with you.
Q: Another thing to keep in mind with regard to bicycles is that I could ride my bike over the same section of road for the next 100 years, and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. We all wish that were true of cars and trucks. Every bike that takes a car off the road makes any road last longer.
Steve Rempel
A: You’re right. This discussion has stirred up a lot of responses and I’ll have more on Sunday on this.
Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Source: www.mercurynews.com