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Published: May 28, 2008

Big Fun, No Lines

Once again, a mostly excellent Summer Fun Guide [Cover Story, "Summer is Ready When You Are," May 22, 2008], and once again, not a single day reserved for Gunnison (nude) Beach, in Monmouth County, N.J. It's an hour closer than Cape May, there's not a single ferris wheel visible in any direction and tan lines suck! Sounds like summer fun to me!

M. Freeman
Philadelphia

Dana Henry's article on green-collar job programs for Philadelphia [News, "One Stone?" May 22, 2008] was provocative, thoughtful, well-researched and exciting. Will look for more coverage as programs progress.

Joan Walker
Via e-mail

My sympathy goes to the injured cyclist [Slant, "Pay Attention!" Stewart Dean Ebersole, May 15, 2008]. This is basically the story of an assault between disgruntled vehicle operators. However, from what is described I can begin to see some fault with the cyclist.

First, the driver of the truck was making a U-turn on Market. Being legal or not I think we can be sure that the driver looked and checked his mirrors first because he knew he was taking a risk and would not want to be hit by another truck or car. So there are two possibilities:

1. He saw the cyclist and didn't care.

2. He didn't see the cyclist because he was in a blind spot. Possibly close to the truck to the left just behind the driver.

If it's No. 2, the cyclist has a responsibility to make sure that he is seen. Using a light even in the daytime would be good — a bright orange or bright green hazard vest. The cyclist, like a car or truck, should have been able to warn the vehicle that was going to make the U-turn. A good loud whistle blast will accomplish this.

The next problem is confronting the offending driver. This should have been handled as a vehicle accident from the start with an exchange of information; the police should have been called.

There was nothing to be won by either party on Market Street, but there was something to be won in court. Maybe this truck driver was driving without a license. Also, you just don't know who is carrying a gun and if they are mad enough to use it; this is the best reason not to confront someone in Philly. If the entire fault lay with the truck driver this could be seen easily on video. There's got to be a security camera at some building on Market Street that caught this.

These aren't suggestions to inhibit bicycle messengers but for the public to have confidence and recourse when there is a problem.

Colin Varga
Via e-mail

Thanks for a great article [Slant, "To the Last Drop," David Faris, May 29, 2008]. The U.S. is the most wasteful country. No president ever addresses it. The day of reckoning will come.

Barbara Tarvydas
Via e-mail

We often see the many places available in the more wealthy neighborhoods and less in the urban neighborhoods [Food, "Da Right Stuff," Makia Harper, May 22, 2008]. To know there is an individual trying to empower minds helps me to keep faith. So many of us do not have the option of a home-cooked meal or do not have the resources to assist us with our needs. Creating an environment that some are not used to helps to establish a cultural change for the better.

Mr. Ahmad Abdullah, continue the good work, we need more people like you in our communities.

LaToya Belton
Via citypaper.net

Contrary to our Ultimate Summer Fun Guide [May 22] listing for Sept. 15, Le Bec-Fin is still accepting reservations for Philadelphia Restaurant Week. City Paper regrets the error.

 

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