Pros and cons of electric bikes

I disagree with the letter in the Feb. 16 Travel section from the writer who says mountain biking destroys wildlife habitat in response to Christopher Reynolds’ Feb. 9 article “Is My E-Bike Legal Here?”

Yes, mountain biking is somewhat destructive, but so is most human activity. Every paved road, every home, school, etc., has driven wildlife from the area where it used to live.

Boats in lakes and the ocean disrupt aquatic life. Should we ban that type of recreation? So why single out bicycles on unpaved paths?

There may be a reason to limit bikes, be they mountain, road or e-bikes, from some sensitive areas, but I think a wholesale banning of bikes from trails is unrealistic and unnecessary.

Finally, my e-bike is truly non-polluting because I charge it at home, and we have solar panels on our roof. Dan Wyman

Oceanside

I’m 72 years old. Like millions of seniors, I’m not quick on my feet, my gait is uneven and I can drift across the pavement. I can’t jump out the way.

Seniors in my neighborhood have walkers and wheelchairs, we pull our groceries behind us in small wagons, and we walk our dogs and our grandkids way too slowly for those riding the sidewalks and pathways on electronic gear.

I’ve been knocked down from behind by a traditional skateboard on a Westwood sidewalk. Hit me wrong, at sufficient speed, and I might not be able to get up without a paramedic.

Pedestrians don’t stand a chance. We’ve lost our crosswalks to cars that brush back pedestrians while turning right on red. Now we’re losing the sidewalks.

Please keep on this topic. If we don’t get this under control before the Olympics, a lot of visitors could get hurt even if I’ve managed to survive. Erin Hourihan Sherman Oaks