In response to Mr Gonzales’ letter to the editor: You obviously don’t understand the laws of physics. Otherwise, you would understand why you’ll get a ticket for speeding and for breaking other traffic laws.

Try this experiment — ride your bike at your normal breakneck speed, in your normal reckless fashion. Next, aim your bike at a tree or a low wall — see what happens. Next, imagine what would happen if, instead of a wall or tree, you hit another person who had the audacity of actually being on the sideWALK you decided to ride upon. You will not only hurt that individual, you will probably hospitalize, and maybe KILL them.

This is not an exaggeration. I have been hit. I’ve also been the subject of many near misses caused by people on bikes whizzing around without regard to what may be in their path around the next corner. Now, I really don’t care whether you ride your bike on the streets, the sidewalk or through the grass. I figure that you have the right to do so, as long as you do so in a reasonable manner. However, you also have the responsibility to ensure that your actions do no harm to others. If all you get is a ticket, count your- self lucky.

Imagine how you feel when you put someone in the hospital! Better yet, imagine how you’ll feel when you get hit by that car that had the green light opposing the red light you just ran. After all, you’re just riding a bicycle — traffic laws don’t apply to you. I bet the car wins!

Scott Leemans

Graduate student

Aerospace engineering and

engineering mechanics