BART extension delays sadden several Sharks fans

Q I live in Pleasanton and am eager for the BART extension to go to downtown San Jose, but now I read that may not be until 2030. What? ... I want to ride to a Sharks game if I’m still living in 2030. — Fred Rios, Donna Philp and others

A I hope you will be still be kickin’ in 2030. Voters approved a series of sales taxes in Santa Clara County beginning in 2000 to pay for BART, saying initially it could open in 2010. Missed that deadline.

Q Thank you for mentioning that motorcyclists may wear earplugs. A word to the wise: they should. Airflow over the helmet causes a highfrequency sound that can damage the rider’s hearing.

I have seen far too many riders who don’t bother, and they may pay a price for it. After more than a million miles, always with earplugs, my hearing is intact.

I was stopped by a cop in Mountain View years ago who threatened to cite me for wearing earplugs when riding. I was

able to convince him of the reason, and my unimpaired ability to hear car horns and sirens. — John Joss, Los Altos

A Many other motorcyclists agreed with you.

Q Holy Moly Gary. Traffic in Salt Lake City is worse than San Jose. Highway 15 moves slower than Highway 101 at rush hour. — Ray-the-Tow-Truck-Guy

A Holy Moly, indeed.

Q When will the “Complete Streets” program be completed on San Fernando Street in downtown San Jose? It was started last November and between 10th and Diridon, there is only one functioning bus stop platform, with a few halfway built, and a few not even started.

This is mayhem for drivers and bicyclists, with bikes swerving into the street to avoid buses that are still swinging to the curb to pick up passengers. Can’t they finish this so- called “Complete

A They are almost done. Building new bus boarding platforms has taken much longer than anticipated. In the meanwhile, buses have had to pull to the curb, across the bike lane, to safely pick up and drop off passengers. Three new platforms are in place, and VTA hopes to open them this week. But those will be the last two platforms on San Fernando Street. Then part of VTA’s new transit service plan will be removed from San Fernando between Autumn and Seventh streets. San Fernando will remain a pedestrian and bicyclistfriendly corridor.

Until that plan launches at the end of this year, VTA buses must continue to pull to the curb to safely pick up passengers.