Handicap ramps may need to be replaced or retrofitted

QThe main reason why I am tired of new tax measures is how our politicians use the funds they keep taking. I live on Roeder Road in

San Jose and we have been informed that they are going to rip out 78 handicap ramps in our area and replace them with handicap ramps.

Now there is work that needs to be done to Roeder and surrounding roads, but I can’t understand why we need to make this investment in something that doesn’t need attention. I believe it may have to do with additional ADA requirements, which make no sense most of the time.

— Terry Harnish,

San Jose

AThe neighborhood around Roeder Road will be paved this summer. Under federal law, most types of pavement maintenance must include updating ADA ramps. Failure to perform this work can open the city to legal action from other agencies as well as residents, so there’s simply no alternative to updating ramps that are not up to the most recent standards.

City inspectors assess every ramp along a pavement corridor and are only replacing or retrofitting ramps that require updating. Colin-A-CitySpokesman says, “It’s also important to note that these standards are built with the needs of users in mind. Although a ramp may look fine to folks not fully dependent on their use for mobility, there is a specific reason that each requirement exists.”

Updates may include, among other things, installing less slippery surfaces and bigger and more visible dots.

QI recently took a ridesharing vehicle and found a bowling ball that had been left by a previous rider. That was unusual.

— Megan Wonder, San Jose

AYes, it was. Uber says these are other unusual items left behind by riders:

• A couple of mice for a pet snake to eat.

• A specimen cup from a doctor’s office.

• A CPAP sleep machine.

• A bag of wigs.

• A bag of breast milk.

• An oxygen tank.

• A gas mask.

• Wife’s weed, said her husband.

• And my favorite: “My child’s innocence,” said a parent.

QGary, our trip to San Francisco to see “Hamilton” went very well. My wife and I ended up driving to SFO, used the BART yellow Antioch line to Civic Center. The train was virtually empty most of the way there. Parking at SFO is not cheap. It was $36 all day. But it is quick and stressfree. We parked at the international terminal, took the elevator to the seventh floor, and walked right out to the BART station. As expected, “Hamilton” was great. If you can, you should see it!

— David T.,

San Jose

AWe did a few years ago for Mrs. Roadshow’s birthday. It was great, yes!