FAST LANE: Bicyclists are about to become...

FAST LANE: Bicyclists are about to become a more common sight on Ventura County freeways (B5). . . . Bike lanes already exist on the Ventura Freeway near the Santa Barbara County line. Now Caltrans is set to open new lanes along a two-mile stretch of the Moorpark Freeway between Moorpark and Thousand Oaks. But some cyclists question the rationale of putting pedalers alongside motorists. Said Simi Valley resident Larry Hainline: “I would not consider it safe at all.”

TOUGH CHOICE: Would it be better to save money or the city’s Police Department? That is the question the Port Hueneme City Council will wrestle with at its meeting tonight (B5). . . . Voters in June narrowly rejected a parcel tax needed to keep the city’s Police Department open. Now the council must decide whether to adopt a utility tax to close a $500,000 police funding gap or contract with the Sheriff’s Department. Resident Valorie Morrison said the city should hold onto its own police force at all costs. “Once the Police Department is gone, they are gone,” she said. “We can’t get them back.”

SPLASHDOWN: What had 3 1/2 miles of thread, 2 miles of suspension lines, 2,400 yards of nylon and was compressed into a space about the size of a bushel basket? It was Ventura County’s contribution to the nation’s early space shots. The now-idle Northrop plant in Newbury Park developed and assembled the parachutes that brought the space capsules from orbit to a gentle ocean landing. One tricky part: deploying the series of chutes gradually so they weren’t ripped apart during re-entry.

SAFE FOOD: As if those artery-clogging tacos and enchiladas weren’t bad enough. . . . Another consumer watchdog group wants people to know about the hazards of chemically tainted foods. The Ventura chapter of Mothers and Others for Safe Food will hold a members meeting on Saturday to discuss how to choose the healthiest, chemical-free foods. The organization promotes the use of organic foods, grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Information: 658-8915.