Cycles of danger on the streets

Manhattan: I am a lifetime New Yorker who, like Alan Dershowitz, is quite concerned about how pedestrians and bicyclists interact with each other (“Pedestrians and bicyclists, at odds,” Dec. 3). I myself almost get hit by a bicyclist at least twice a week. Currently there is a proposal by some in the City Council and some borough presidents that we use public money to fund Citi Bike which would allow it to expand.

We have a major problem in New York City. Manhattan is overrun by many careless and thoughtless bikers who — ride on the sidewalk, ride in bus lanes, not stopping at lights, not always using the expensive bike lanes, not wearing clothing at night so pedestrians and drivers can see them, riding the wrong way, speeding, talking on the telephone and texting. Not to mention riding motorbikes that aren’t licensed. I too have gotten the finger and been cursed at when pointing out the dangers to these careless bikers.

We need to license bikes, all bikes — including those from Citi Bike and those with motors — and establish a ticketing system. Perhaps we can convince bikers to be more careful and obey the rules or it will be costly for them. As for pedestrians, you need to look both ways when crossing. I would hope that the city does not use public money to fund a growing problem. I realize that riding a bike helps to alleviate traffic problems and pollution, but this needs to be addressed and soon.

Marcia Shulman

Pedaling peril

Manhattan: Thank you, Alan Dershowitz (“Pedestrians and cyclists, at odds”) for going public about your fears of traffic-lawbreaking bicyclists. Keep it up. Some of us have actively objected for decades, and especially pushed for bike registration and identifying license plates. And yes, some states do have such measures, but not New York and the city’s Department of Transportation, and organized bike groups have adamantly opposed them. Let’s consider as well that in a high-density city with great public transit, noncommercial bicycling is still “private transit,” and for that, riders should most gratefully comply with the laws of the road, not to mention be registered, have visible license plates and carry insurance. Oh, yes, a bike ridden in the city should make a nice little sound.

Bette Dewing

Fatal cycling

Manhattan: Alan Dershowitz writes that it is only a matter of time before a pedestrian is killed. Twenty years ago, one of my best friends, a lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School, was knocked down by a bicyclist on Vanderbilt Ave., and died three weeks later of his injuries. I testified at a City Council hearing later. In all these years, little has been done to stop or deter the lawbreaking bicyclists in our city. Riding the wrong way on a oneway street, riding on the sidewalk, going through red lights — the rules are to them inconveniences that may be ignored. They have been given extra privileges, including special bike lanes, but few respect the rules and safety of pedestrians. The City Council and the NYPD need to give more thought to our safety.

Paul Silverstone

Unfair reporting

Philadelphia: “Drunk men screaming ‘Trump’ attack Muslim straphanger” is a great reason why your readership is down and why people no longer trust the mainstream media (Dec. 3). The Daily News is a complete rag. I must have missed your report on the loads of people helping the white guy get ripped from his car in Chicago and getting his ass kicked days after the election. He was harassed and beaten for the assumption that he voted Trump. You all either hate white people or just love to use this sort of narrative to push your anti-American, anti-white and anti-Christian agenda. Sad and untruthful reporting as usual. Thanks for the chuckles. Rich Greenberg

Dress like you belong

Staten Island: Yasmin Seweid must understand that it will always be “too soon” for Americans to accept anyone displaying anything connected to Muslim terrorists. Sorry, but it is what it is. 9/11 is seared into our brains and to be force-fed these people who refuse to accept and assimilate into the American culture will continually result in these kinds of incidents. There are thousands of people walking around this country who lost people they loved, and seeing that type of dress just conjures up a great deal of pain. If she wants to wear her costume and headscarf, she should do it in the privacy of her own home. If Allah is all that forgiving, he will understand how hurtful and painful it is to have to see reminders of the most horrific incident perpetrated on America ever. We all have our own crosses to bear; that is theirs. She sure has no issues wearing tons of makeup, though. In that way, she managed to assimilate very well.

Maria DePalma

Attacks everywhere

Brooklyn: Mayor de Blasio is so upset about a Muslim woman being cursed at. How about all the old white people being attacked by blacks in the last two months. I guess that’s okay? Get your priorities straight. And remember who pays the most taxes in this city — certainly not Muslims.

Patrick Doyle

Discriminating choices

Manhattan: To Voicer Rick Robinson: What about the killing sprees committed by Dylann Roof and James Holmes? What about school shootings committed by non-Muslims? Should we crack down on the number of white males or Christians allowed in one place? Christine Christiano

Gersh needs a brand new bag

Staten Island: Hey Gersh Kuntzman (“Finally, a black Santa Claus comes to the Mall of America,” column, Dec. 2), now that you are so overjoyed about the first black Santa Claus, maybe you can address the slaughter of African-Americans that are destroying all the inner cities, especially in Chicago where they have the toughest gun laws but a coward for a mayor. The count so far? 703 black lives murdered in 2016, thousands more shot and wounded. Try and be a real journalist, make a difference.

Anthony Liverano

Give us the truth about Trump

Brooklyn: Why isn’t there more media coverage regarding the letter from the Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee to President Obama requesting that he reveal documents showing the full extent of Russia’s involvement in our election? Apparently, Senate Democrats feel that the American people should know what else Russia did in addition to hacking the Democratic National Committee and John Podesta’s emails to help get Donald Trump elected. If Obama feels that releasing these documents will cause turmoil, he is not considering that there were 2.5 million more people who voted for Hillary Clinton to be President. Obama should stop protecting Trump and release the documents. The American people have every right to know how Trump won this election.

Barbara Berg

Presidential misstatement

Shrub Oak, N.Y.: Voicer Lorraine Crimando has a short memory. Obama once said that the U.S.A. has 57 states and referred to a naval combat medic as a “corpseman” instead of “corpsman,” yet he was elected twice. What she hears as “bigly” is really Trump saying “big league,” which is a common sports reference meaning really, really good as opposed to “minor league” which implies not so good, like Hillary Clinton’s amateurish neglect of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania which cost her a job she really wanted.

Gabriel Pompe

Cool your Jets

Congers, N.Y.: Is the Daily News still a newspaper (“Darrelle Revis confidant says Jets corner ‘doesn’t want to play anymore,’ ” Nov. 30)? As in a journalistic vehicle, with standards and rules? Or should you be found more at the supermarket checkout line? This is not journalism. Or at least not legitimate journalism. Yellow journalism, maybe. It’s unsourced with no attempt to let Revis weigh in even though writer Manish Mehta was in the locker room with him the day before (chicken did not show up today). This is not the first time. This guy has no credibility. I am a Jet fan and want to read about my team, but not unvalidated BS. There are plenty of legitimate things to criticize about the Revis signing and his performance, but why go with garbage like this? Mehta should be held accountable. Kevin McGuinness

Mostly unhelpful

Shawn Inglima Plainview, L.I.: To Voicer Kenneth Joe: Your comment just adds to the hate. Nice goin’.

Stephen Rosenblatt