PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Bicyclists Caused Morning Traffic Jam

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — I headed out to work this morning (June 16) just to discover that I should have left an hour early to allow the cyclists the pleasure of their cruise, in the middle of the highway, from Highway 127 on to Highway 12, then all the way to Rogers. Eighteen miles at 20 mph because the roads are too curvy to safely pass the multitude of cyclists who didn’t have the decency to ride single-file on the side of the road.

I, knowing the risks, grumbled and followed.

I cringed repeatly as the impatient drivers fl oored it and passed on blind curves.

This event should have been heavily published prior and - why on the most tourist traveled andcurvy two-lane scenic highway? Several businesses of Main Street Rogers didn’t even know this was happening. Camp War Eagle letting out, Eureka Springs events and some of us still had to work.

I was only 15 minutes late but lost 30 minutes on this trek. I hope no one was hurt. Tour De Fun could have been advertised better so that those of us who had to go to work could have adjusted our schedules.

SUSAN SMITH / Rogers

SPRAYING CONCERNS

The chemical spraying of vegetationunderneath power lines and around power poles in Rogers has me concerned.

While driving to my home in Monte Ne in June, I saw workers spraying on both sides of New Hope Road and along Highway 94, and I was shocked. Even though the workers were wearing gloves and paper masks over their mouths and noses, I’m worried they will suff er health consequences. The air, even with the car windows rolled up, smelled strongly like ant spray for a week and a half.

A few days later, the vegetation where they sprayed started turning brown and died. It may be an easy way to clear-cut and save costs on repairing downed power lines, butit is certainly shortsighted.

Any chemicals applied to surface vegetation in large amounts will contaminate the natural springs and waterways, quickly seep into the groundwater and run into Beaver Lake.

If we’re not lucky, the chemicals will aff ect our drinking water and our public health.

I want to praise our elected oftcials for having the courage to try to do something about this problem. Clean, unpolluted water is an issue now. We can’t afford to wait for it to get worse. I believe the city should act before it’s too late.

TRACY FORTUNY

Rogers