
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 17, 1993                   TAG: 9307200567
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WIMMER REVS MOTORISTS' IRE

I HAVE been bicycling in the Roanoke area for 15 years, logging thousands of miles. I regularly commute by bicycle to work in downtown Roanoke. In all this time, I have had very few incidents with motorists. They may not like my presence on the road, but 99 percent of them are courteous, tolerant and respectful of my right to be on the road. I feel that Roanoke is a relatively safe place to bicycle.

But every time the Roanoke Times & World-News prints another pointless letter by Jackie Wimmer (July 9, "Don't peddle more pedalers on Roanoke"), the safety of all bicyclists is considerably diminished.

All her letters accomplish is to incite the wrath of those motorists who were previously tolerant toward bicyclists into a less-tolerant attitude. It does nothing but put bicyclists at greater risk.

STEPHEN B. CATES\ ROANOKE

by CNB