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Letters to the Editor

We welcome your opinions and letters – with name and address. We will edit when necessary. Include your name, address and phone number for verification. Mail them to Bay Weekly, P.O. Box 358, Deale, MD 20751 • E-mail them to [email protected]. or submit your letters on line, click here

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Fatal Traffic Crashes Are Coming

Dear Bay Weekly:

Many of us commute regularly, and, fortunately for the environment, there is a growing group of MTA commuter bus riders. Having driven the same route to the Bristol bus stop (off Rt. 4) for nearly five years, my husband and I are now witnessing more aggressive drivers, particularly at the intersection of routes 2 and 258. Most of these drivers are not bus commuters, which is interesting because we have to be on time for pickup at the stops.

The right turn lanes at this intersection (and for most others like it) are not intended for passing aggressively on the right. We have seen fatal crashes up the road, closer to Rt. 4. We know these crazed aggressive drivers (worse in the mornings than evenings) are going to crash sooner or later (probably sooner).

We have beautiful countryside, and the 10 minute-drive between Deale and Rt. 4 is one worth enjoying … and keeping safe for everyone.

Thanks and we hope we can keep our community safe.

— Maggi Gunnels, Churchton

Ride Together to Cut Congestion and Greenhouse Gasses

Dear Bay Weekly:

Over the past year, more than 5,800 Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., commuters participated in a unique ridesharing event that has taken millions of miles off area roadways and saved more than two tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of planting a tree every 100 feet of the D.C. beltway.

A partnership formed between NuRide, the nation’s first incentive-based ride network, Chevron Corporation and 20 other sponsors recruited 5,874 commuters for this highly successful conservation program called the Chevron 5,000,000 Mile Rideshare Challenge. Participants in the event recently surpassed the 5,000,000-mile goal and are celebrating their achievements with an online event at www.chevronridesharedc.com.

When people ride together, it benefits all of us by reducing traffic congestion and air pollution while easing the stress on ourselves, our communities and our infrastructure. Considering that a 10 percent increase in ridesharing decreases highway congestion delays by up to 50 percent, everyone would start getting around a bit more quickly if we all shared a ride every once in a while. Individuals who share rides provide a valuable service to their community, as do corporate sponsors such as Chevron and others who step up and make these programs a success.

I urge you to learn more about the NuRide Network (www.nuride.com) in our area and how easy and rewarding it can be to put a little Earth Day into every day by sharing a ride every once in a while.

—Rick Steele, Co-Founder and CEO: NuRide Inc.

Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns

Dear Bay Weekly:

Loved the team picture [Earth Day-Birthday issue, Vol. xv, No. 16: April 19]! Here’s to many more years to come!

–Louis Llovio, Reisterstown

Editor’s note: Llovio, a former Bay Weekly reporter, is now an award-winning business writer for The Daily Record.