Trail Plans Met With Resistance

* As a longtime resident of San Clemente, I feel your perspective on the proposed beach trail along the coast to be misguided (“Proposed Beach Trail on the Right Track,” Nov. 12 editorial). You state that one of the joys of riding the rails through South County is gazing at the Pacific, but crossing those same tracks is difficult and too often dangerous. I feel that the pristine beauty of the beach will be marred by this proposed trail with little benefit as to the stated need, a safe right of way to the beach. I think the money would be better spent assessing the dangerous points along the railroad tracks and then providing safe rights of way to beach access through them.

PAUL FERNALD

San Clemente

* Caltrans recently announced that due to a shortage of funds, part of the bicycle trail passing through Tustin, Orange and Villa Park cannot be built until next year. The Orange County Bicycle Coalition seems to be upset at this delay and hopes that it will be “high on the priority list” at that time! Instead of crying and complaining about this, why do they not really do something constructive? For instance, they could attempt to raise the funds by lobbying for a bill to require all bicycles to be licensed and registered each year, just as all other vehicles are. The monies that are raised would be used to fund these bike trails that are used exclusively by the cyclists.

As the price of some of these bicycles can be $1,000 or more, a $50 or $100 a year license fee and a small “road use” tax should not be excessive. In addition, a licensed bicycle would be less likely to be stolen, and easier to trace in the event that it was.

This sounds like a win-win situation for everyone concerned, except for those cheapskates that want someone else to pay for their hobby!

JACK SMITH

Lake Forest

* I consider myself a liberal Democrat, but why should federal funds be used for a bicycle trail for residents of Orange, Tustin, Villa Park and Orange County? (“Federal Funds to Be Sought for Bicycle Trail,” Nov. 17) Residents of New York City and points in between shouldn’t pay in taxes for a bicycle trail in California. The money should be raised locally.

CLAIRE STILL

Laguna Hills