Bottled water — no problem

The members of the Board of Supervisors showed how out of touch they are when they unanimously approved Supervisor David Chiu’s illconceived ban on selling bottled water (“Supervisors OK limit on plastic water bottle sales,” March 5).

This will result in many people reluctantly buying soda when they would prefer water. Besides the health consequences, soda bottles contain much more plastic and are harder to recycle.

If they had banned soda, at least it would have made some sense. With all the serious problems facing this city, this is what Chiu focuses on? Force-feeding us his ideology? I found it ironic that the rationale that he gave for the ban is that people have done without bottled water for years. And this coming from a so-called progressive.

Tim Donnelly, San Francisco

Turn signal? Nah

In response to your request for San Francisco Rules of the Road (“Like everything else in S.F., the driving rules are unique,” Insight, March 2), here’s mine: Under no condition, no matter what, don’t ever, ever, ever use your turn indicator to signal a lane change, as turn signals are strictly optional and way too much trouble to use.

Instead, you should just keep drifting aimlessly between lanes whenever the spirit moves you, because the rest of us, sharing the busy roads with you and trying to avoid hitting you, can read your mind, making the turn indicator an unnecessary appendage on your steering column.

In fact, I think San Francisco should pass a law banning turn signals on all vehicles registered here altogether.

Francesca Wander, San Francisco

Driving etiquette

Please, people. Simple driving rules to live by:

Look twice, and be nice.

Tammy Neher, Novato

Avoid Laura’s Law

The writer of “Implement Laura’s Law” (Letters, March 4) is exactly why the Alameda County supervisors should avoid Laura’s Law.

She wishes to rid her neighborhood of people who might or might not be crazy but clearly make her uncomfortable.

Do people urge their police and their leadership to involuntarily commit people who don’t fit the preferred profile of a neighborhood or business district?

People do.

Carol Denney, Berkeley

E-cigs are better

The Chronicle’s recent articles on the limitation of ecigarettes in San Francisco are a worthy discussion.

However, one point has been lacking: the concept of “harm reduction.”

We all agree that smoking kills. But nicotine at small doses, for most people, is not a serious health issue. Limitations must be put down, of course, but banning its use and sale is not wise.

E-cigarettes are considered by many health professionals to contain vastly less toxin as compared with tobacco combustion. If this is a “gateway,” perhaps it’s a gateway for addicted smokers to rid themselves of this deadly habit.

E-cigs could be the most effective way to truly reduce this health menace to committed tobacco users.

Rebekah Son, Berkeley

New bridge idea

Responding to letters about the old Bay Bridge (“Save that bridge — just in case,” March 4), I suggest it be turned into a Bay Area High Line.

Surely it could support foot traffic. In our climate, trees, bushes, flora of all kind flourish. The High Line in New York has added beauty and community to the city. Why not us?

Adrienne Ross, Fort Bragg