France's bike system could work here, too

Honolulu, you have got to check this out. No, it is not for everyone, and it isn't exactly clear how it would work with carpools, but the Velib in Paris is absolutely the craze (see New York Times, Oct. 21). What is it? Beginning July 15, thousands of bicycles became available in Paris at hundreds of self-service docking stations installed around the city. Anyone can stroll over, swipe a credit card and ride away on a sturdy, well-maintained three-speed bike called a Velo.

In just three months, 15,000 bikes have been put into service at more than 1,000 stations. When you reach your destination, you look for the nearest Velib station, click your bike into an empty dock, watch a light change from yellow to green -- voila!

The French have embraced the Velib. If the French can do this, we sure can. Going from Pearl City or Kaimuki to downtown or from downtown to the university would be a breeze with good bikeways, and how much fun could we have! Race ya to the Xerox machine! Would somebody in the Hannemann administration please check this out and compare it to the disaster brewing with light rail in Seattle?

If bus routes work, why change them?

Three buses travel within Aina Haina: Hawaii Kai Drive, Lunalilo Home Road and upper Aina Haina. TheBus plans to eliminate the East/West Hind loop in lower Aina Haina, thereby cutting service by two-thirds. The remaining upper Aina Haina bus would run once an hour and only go to Kahala Mall. Passengers would have to cross busy Kalanianaole Highway to go to Hawaii Kai or transfer at Kahala Mall to go to town.

This would be dangerous for keiki going to Niu Valley Middle School and for the many seniors and others with limited mobility in Aina Haina who depend on the bus to go to medical appointments in Hawaii Kai or to go downtown. Getting on and off the bus with bundles to transfer would be especially hard for our kupuna.

Ferry is a blessing for disabled people

I am writing in response to Richard Borecca's "On Politics" column of Oct. 28, regarding the Superferry legislation and the actions of Gov. Linda Lingle and Senate Chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa.

My wife and I were on the aborted Superferry trip to Nawiliwili on Aug. 27, and we did attend the Senate and House committee hearings last Wednesday and Thursday. I did testify in favor of House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1. I have no technical expertise about ports or ferry operations, but I think the Superferry will be a great asset to the state. My wife has a disability that makes it difficult to fly and to rent a car on the neighbor islands. The ferry, which allows us to take our own car, is a blessing. We did hear the tirades of some opponents who must have come in from another planet to oppose the Superferry and Lingle, using arguments that had no basis in truth or reality.

Lingle is effectively doing her job by advocating what she thinks is best for Hawaii.

Would parents feel OK about being searched?

Recent letter writers say they want education authorities to search their children's belongings and persons. Rather than the Department of Education doing the dirty work, why don't some of these parents who demand law and order in the schools talk seriously to their children about drugs, discipline, homework and social problems? One important lesson the children can learn is the Golden Rule of Confucius: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

If the schools can search the property and persons of their children without any probable cause, then can we come to the parents' home and search without any good reason through their persons, papers, houses and effects?

Let's take drug tests to their logical next step

I'd like to second Ken Chang's responsible call for Hawaii's families to step up and be randomly tested for drugs (Letters, Oct. 21). This is a war, and halfway measures really are not enough. It's time for the government to test everyone, every day. Only the guilty will object.

There is only one way to achieve the long-cherished and seemingly unobtainable goal of a drug-free America. Call or write your representatives and demand they test everyone, every day.

Remember. One way. Everyone, every day.

Rocky Mountain high came and went early

My wife, Sandy Delmonte, said it all when she made the pun, "The Rockies peaked too soon!" A funny play on the word, but it explained the series well between Colorado and Boston.