In search of bike friendliness

Dear Editors,

I’m beginning to think that Durango needs to remove the signs posted as you enter town, the ones that say we’re a bike friendly community. We really don’t qualify anymore. True, Durango has some of the best mountain biking trails anywhere, and the bike path is awesome! We also have great trail maintenance, fantastic bike shops, knowledgeable mechanics, talented pros, community support, biking groups, the Iron Horse, great road biking, etc. etc. etc.!

Alas, it’s our “friendly” moniker that doesn’t seem to apply anymore. What has soured me? First, the guy driving the car behind my husband and I not too long ago, the one that cussed us out like I’ve never heard before ... “You F-ing bikers F-ing need to follow the same F-ing rules that cars do you G-D F-ing ......!” Our cardinal sin? We slowed down approaching a four-way stop sign, then rolled through when another car to our right didn’t go. Whether we were right or wrong, aggression begets aggression so I flipped him off and cussed back.

Another time, my friend and I were riding side-by-side down a residential street (normally we ride one in front of the other but we were approaching my house) when a large, smoke billowing diesel truck turned the corner behind us and yelled “Get out of the F-ing street!” then proceeded to gun his engine and speed – yes, speed – down the street ... the very same street where I’ve witnessed two accidents involving speeding vehicles, a dog hit by a speeding vehicle, numerous close calls by speeding vehicles, and if I hear one more bumper scrape the ditch by my house because a speeding vehicle runs the sign again I’m going to just ... ahhhh!!!

Anyway, the point is that I’ve ridden in California, Nevada, Oregon, Hawaii, Alabama, New Mexico and Arizona, and I have never ever been yelled at like I have here. If I make a mistake while I’m driving, I smile at the other driver and signal “oops” and they smile back. But hop on a bike and make a mistake and you’re public enemy number one. If we don’t want bikes around because they’re in our way, we need to remove the signs that may possibly mislead tourists; the ones who want to bring their bikes to our town and their tourist dollars to our economy. We don’t need all those tourist dollars right? There’s always metal and uranium mining, logging, and oil and gas exploration. And now that gas prices will be dropping, we can waste all we want instead of riding annoying bikes. So pull out your big diesels, hummers and explorers (like the one that belonged to the guy who cussed me out), ‘cause the streets will be all yours again!

– Robin Wallace, Durango

The road to Durango City Council

Dear Editors,

I am writing to thank many, many people for the success of my campaign for Durango City Council.

First and foremost, I thank the nearly 2,200 voters who expressed confidence in my ability to represent you. To you and to all City residents, I reiterate the promise I made on some of your doorsteps – that I will listen to you and I will seek thoughtful decisions for the future of our community.

Many individuals in the City and in the County supported my campaign in diverse ways. The contributions included donations, placing of yard signs, knocking on doors that I could not reach myself, phone calls, waving signs, sharing enthusiasm about my campaign with friends and neighbors, and other behind-the-scenes tasks. I regret that I cannot thank all of you individually.

Astute advice about running a campaign came from a number of people, including present and former councilors and candidates, and especially from Laura Godfrey, a key member of my team. Alan Rolston and Werner Heiber worked tirelessly and Tom Riesing served ably as campaign treasurer, in addition to other campaign work. Faye Schrater, my wife and best friend, also managed the campaign, keeping straight all the diverse details, so that I could concentrate on the essential task of communicating with voters.

Newspaper endorsements represented powerful statements of confidence in my ability to represent the citizens of Durango.

Additional thanks for the election process go to City staff, especially City Clerk Amy Phillips, for providing clear instruction on the legal requirements of the campaign and important updates along the way. Thanks likewise go to the civic groups that hosted candidate forums, especially to the League of Women Voters for the event that reached the wide audience of City Span 10.

Finally, I thank Sweetie Marbury, Emil Wanatka and Connie Imig for their willingness to serve the community, for their ideas and articulate expression of concern for our City, and for their energetic and civil campaigns.

I look forward to working with and for all of you.

– Dick White, Durango  

Mother Goose

Morning comes, my lover wakes.

Leaving the dream as she turns on the light

And the man in the moon

Out west of midnight.

Her problems today are the same as before:

The yell and the beat of the get out the door.

The balky children, the asshole ex.

And what are my problems? Not so much more

Than the pick up of clothes and my life from the floor.

Well, I didn’t tell her last night

When I ought to have (maybe)

That thing I wanted to laugh about

It wasn’t even funny—had nothing to do with

Just being happy. Certainly not

For the one it concerns – a goose.

Yes, that’s right.

I’m worried about a goose

Who made her nest and laid her eggs

Atop a midstream island, safe (it seemed)

From foxes, bears, raccoons and all

The thousand things that cause

A mother goose concern.

But the spring melt’s come and the river now rises

Inch upon inch upon day upon day

With cold, muddy water

Lapping closer and closer.

What’s more, there’s a bridge

Overlooking that nest and

A bridge full of people all

Stopping to stare and of course

It’s too late and the eggs have been laid.

And it’s really not funny for that goose.

So we do what we can for ourselves and each other

And kiss our good nights and our mornings together

And once in an hour or two we can laugh

And remember to cherish the problems we have.

– Sam Bridgham, Durango