City’s Use of Radar to Monitor Speed of Cyclists, Skaters Stirs Controversy

Huntington Beach police officers will soon be utilizing radar devices to monitor the speed of bicyclists, skaters and skateboarders on the city’s oceanfront bike paths (“Police Retool Speeding Law for Skaters, Bicyclists,” Oct. 6). The reported goal of this program is to utilize the city’s technological arsenal and superbly trained law enforcement personnel to apprehend and cite the nefarious and speeding lawbreakers that dare to travel at 6 m.p.h. rather than the “limit” of 5 m.p.h.

Is this a joke? I would like to believe that the management of our city, a city that has significant financial problems, can better utilize our limited personnel and assets. For example, perhaps the possibly novel idea of using all of our police officers to prevent crime and arrest felons.

My impression is that the bikers et al. are not a significant and perpetual problem for the pedestrian. The pedestrian normally can simply step aside of the occasional oncoming bicycling nut.

If I’m wrong, then I believe there are less expensive corrective actions that may be taken, such as installing a couple of speed bumps with appropriate warning sign pronouncements. Or, perhaps, the presence of volunteer bicycling police cadets or Boy Scouts.

But, city officials, please don’t waste our costly police officers and the program administration personnel necessary on this or other childish endeavors when they may be better utilized on real crime prevention and cure.

RUSSELL B. HAYDON, Huntington Beach