Honolulu is going in right direction

I am responding to Mike Eberle’s comment about counting only three cyclists in the new King Street Cycle Track ("Bike track serving very few bicyclists," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 15).

I hope he was minding his driving in traffic while counting cyclists.

His main concern seems to be tax dollars spent. I can think of many other tax-spending issues. What percent of total tax dollars went into this one?

I live off South King Street and notice it is almost always busy — a main thoroughfare in Honolulu. At 11 a.m., probably most bicycle commuting is done. With time to cruise and count bikers, try going between 7-9 a.m. or 4-6 p.m. and count then.

With daily news reports of either a pedestrian or cyclist getting rammed by a vehicle, maybe the focus should be on vehicle traffic safety and not on cyclists and the tax dollars being spent to encourage more converts to bicycling. This is going in the right direction.

Derek Bryant
Moiliili

Cyclists using track will gain in number

I am so pleased to see that Honolulu is heading in a more environmentally conscious and sustainable direction with the installation of the new King Street Cycle Track. This is a very positive change for our city.

As the population increases, we definitely need to consider ways to ease traffic congestion and address the problem with air pollution.

Having a bike-friendly city is the best possible answer to these problems. It’s so wonderful to see so many people already using the track; I expect the numbers will only grow.

I am looking forward to seeing more protected bike lanes being installed throughout the city, so that it will be safe to bike no matter where you are headed, and no matter what your age or fitness level.

It is so important that we keep an open mind when it comes to transportation in Honolulu, especially when considering the future.

Kristie Reilly
Punchbowl

Bike track designer should be fired

The person who designed the extra lane on H-1 should get a well-deserved raise. The person who implemented the bike lanes on King Street should be looking for work.

King Street was the only road that actually had a smooth flow even in rush hour. Unfortunately that is no longer the case.

Add a lane here, subtract a lane there. Seems like a good idea?

David Marabella
Kaneohe

Anti-Zionism about Israel expansionism

Mathew Sgan wants to know the difference between anti-Zionism and hating Jews ("Anti-Zionism hard to fathom," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 6).

For myself, anti-Zionism is opposition to the expansionist policies of the Israeli government. The status quo allows for continued expansion into Arab East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

As long as the Netanyahu government does not conclude a peace treaty, it can continue to put Jewish settlers into Arab East Jerusalem.

Just blame the Palestinians for being unreasonable in peace negotiations, knowing the U.S. will not pressure Israel to make peace, nor will it turn its back on Israel in any crisis.

Of course, expansion into Arab East Jerusalem is all done under whatever legal pretext or law that Israel passes.

Just because something is legal does not make it right.

Peter Chisteckoff
Mililani Mauka

Christmas a time for wishful thinking

All I want for Christmas:

» Have the words "bipartisan" and "malama aina" removed from our vocabulary.

Surely, bipartisan is never used except in election years and, once elected, those who used it forget it ever existed.

As for malamaaina, all you have to do is look at the 483-foot-tall windmills on our North Shore to realize those who use those words really don’t mean "our aina."

» Prohibit all road work that needs to be done from being done in December.

» Have all affordable housing being built cost under $400,000, or stop saying it is affordable.

» Don’t use Norfolk Pine trees as wind buffers, as we’re beginning to look like Washington State instead ofHawaii.

» Have "equal" representation for Hawaii in our Congress.

All this is wishful thinking.

Then again, there is no Santa Claus.

Sharon Rapoza Bruffey
Haleiwa

Traffic accidents should be big news

On Dec. 9, two pedestrians in Honolulu were struck by motor vehicles in separate incidents. Both were hospitalized in critical condition.Thereafter, the condition of one of the victims was upgraded to serious.

Kudos to the Star-Advertiser for its online posts that evening, at 6:55 and then 9:54.But apparently the editors did not believe press coverage was warranted in the hard-copy edition.I think that was a mistake.

In the short time I have been here, I have witnessed numerous close calls between drivers and pedestrians in crosswalks.

Moreover, on at least two occasions I was nearly run over in crosswalks by speeding drivers who entered intersections after I had and apparently never saw me.

Michael Kappos
Waikiki