Letters to Editor: Footpaths not safe from hoons

Footpaths not safe from hoons

About a week ago, my wife and I were walking along the footpath between Queen and Heretaunga streets, on the western side, which is only just wide enough for two people to walk side by side. As we approached Heretaunga St, an elderly man, (we are in our early 70s, and he looked elderly to us, so he must have been elderly), rode towards on a bicycle.

He was not very steady so we reverted to walking single file.

As he wobbled towards us, I suggested he get off the footpath, or, at least, walk his bicycle past us.

He not only ignored my suggestion but almost knocked my wife over and, at the same time gave off with a long and large amount of obscene language.

Today, as my wife and I walked along Heretaunga St on the western side of Allerton Rd towards Stortford Lodge, a trio of about intermediate school-aged males on scooters rode rapidly towards us.

The first of the trio, without slowing apologised, the second deliberately rode towards me and, if I hadn't moved out of the way, would have hit me.

When I remonstrated with him, I was told to go to the same place the elderly gent had told us where to go only a week before.

There is extensive ground work being done in the area with barricades limiting space on footpaths, thereby exacerbating the problem.

The third of the trio waited until we had room to move before scooting off, so we suppose one out of three had a bit of common sense.

This sort of danger is being presented far too often.

I am a volunteer driver for Age Concern. On many occasions, while helping the less mobile of my passengers to get on or off our van, we have been terrorised by young cyclists riding extremely quickly past our group on the footpath, often with similar verbal suggestions as aforementioned.

My wife has stated that when we win Lotto we will establish an organisation devoted entirely to making our footpaths safe from hoons on scooters, idiots on bicycles and inconsiderate oldies on mobility scooters who sneak up behind without sounding warning devices.

I am not sure if she had her tongue in her cheek or not.

Anyway, until our ship comes in and we can afford to set up our wee army, could someone please bring our demand for safe footpaths to the attention of the appropriate organisation which can ensure our perambulatory safety and stop us receiving an earful of abuse when making a purely legal and sensible suggestion.

Alex Bracey, Hastings

Abortion law

Could you explain why anti-abortion protesters should stand outside the courthouse?

We are confused as to how this will prevent child abuse. Unborn babies have been saved by the signs that we hold outside the Hawke's Bay Hospital.

Our signs include messages offering free help and practical support to those facing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. We therefore continue to use our time and energy doing something that has proven effective in preventing child abuse towards unborn babies and it can save mums from a lifetime of regret.

Many women share their heartbreaking abortion stories, often having been misinformed or pressured by partners, family and friends.

So do these women always know best? We believe not. They have no idea what it will be like to live with the knowledge of aborting their own baby.

Child abuse begins in the womb; the defenceless unborn child has no way of crying for help.

Life no longer has the same value when a child's life can be ended on demand and this is sanctioned and funded by our government.

It is amazing how the abortion law can be stretched to accommodate any unplanned pregnancy.

We all have a duty to protect the lives of all children, born and unborn. The recent amendment to the Crimes Act states that New Zealanders have a duty to report cases of child abuse, to whom do we report the violent abuse of children in the womb?

D Bedingfield, Napier

Voters do think

Re Bruce Bisset's column, November 26. Bruce Bisset doesn't usually warrant comment. He just uses big words to say very little but his latest column insulted everyone who didn't vote his way by inferring they were swayed by snake oil salesmen.

For most, it is not a popularity contest but an understanding of reality.

Has he considered that most voters actually think about the issues and worked out that raising the minimum wage will just increase costs, not create wealth. The poor will very quickly be even worse off.

The only way to improve the lot of New Zealanders is to work harder and spend less, not just move the deckchairs on the Titanic. Capital gains tax also will achieve nothing. It will be 10 years before houses show much capital gain and the tax will remove resources from productive businesses.

Again, thinking working people in wealth-creating industries know this instinctively.

If Bruce believes in the democratic process then he should give some respect for those who vote for what they think is right.

The majority as it happens.

Ralph Harrison,  Te Awanga