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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2005)
TO THE EDITOR notices it, or that nobody cares. Ken Warren Eugene CAR-NAGE & BIODIESELS U.S. traffic deaths in 2003 totaled 43,220; injuries, 2,890,000. Cost of highway crashes to society: $230.6 billion per year, about $820 per person (from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Cost of traffic law enforcement, lost land, road construc- tion, road repair, wasted resources in manu- facturing cars, social disintegration, etc. not included. The aforementioned only samples issues omitted by the panacean EW “Fuelish Pride” (12/23). To the liberal’s rebuttal of “Yeah, but biodiesel’s a step in the right direction,” I pre- emptively say NO! Alternative cars only dis- tract from real solutions to Earth’s scourge — as much the “right direction” as concentrat- ing on opening Band-Aids for a severed leg. If citizens don’t start discussing the wider social implications of technological choices, we’ll all start talking like the EW biodiesel in- terviewee: “The only problem is that I ride my bike less.” Excellent primers for said dis- cussion are The Whole and the Reactor (Langdon Winner) and Asphalt Nation (Jane Holtzkay) — and going car-free for a week. Wil D. Hormann Corvallis EXCELLENT? I have a few concerns regarding Lane Transit District. How can a bus strike be pro- Discounted Services Available Now! viding “excellent services” which is a quote from Ken Hamm from the “Rider’s Digest” of Sept. 19, 2004? Mr. Hamm’s “promise.” What does that really mean? What type of management would not ne- gotiate a respectable contract for its employ- ees, thus causing added stress for bus patrons in the middle of winter? No other relief is provided for the 10,000-plus individuals who depend on LTD, implying that LTD would rather save money for its new Bus Rapid System, which has a higher priority over maintaining current bus schedules and meet- ing the needs of the public. Is LTD a public-oriented service? If cur- rent services are not adequately funded, how can there be long-term funding for a “new” bus system? This implies that regular bus service will continually be cut in order to bring in a new bus rapid system. How can this be “excellent” service? Or is this new bus rapid system like the electric buses? How many times have the electric buses been painted? Twice! Where are the electric buses today? Bus patrons need actual physical, reliable transportation, not buses that sit in the bus yard collecting dust. Valerie Harris Springfield LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and will print as many as space allows. Please limit length to 250 words, keep submissions to once a month, and include your address and phone number for our files. E- mail to editor@eugeneweekly.com (please put “letters” in the subject line), fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401. • Skin Care including Ultrasonic Facial (a topical alternative to Botox) Cleansing, Acne, Anti-Aging • Waxing • Makeup • Permanent Cosmetics Call 344-7789 Services by students are discounted! NW Aesthetics • 2371 Oakmont Way • www.estheticnw.com FREE DUTCH LOVE!! GET YOUR VALENTINE A CUP OF HOT AND STEAMY DUTCH LOVE. BUY ONE DRINK GET ONE FREE. VALENTINE’S DAY ONLY. MUST HAVE COUPON TO REDEEM FREE DRINK LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED 7TH & OLIVE – OPEN 24 HRS. 11TH & HIGH – 5:30AM-11PM 11TH & CHAMBERS – 5:30AM-11PM 2115 FRANKLIN – 5:30AM-11PM FEBRUARY 10, 2005 7
