LETTERS EDITOR TO THE

Trail Rights of Way

Trail rights of way — common sense and education inform us to drive defensively. You might have the right of way but, to avoid an accident, you yield to the uninformed.

Unfortunately, a lack of education seems to have become a real problem with our new trail system. In this case, one hopes information might help. For details, see IMBA.com rules of the trail.

The rules of the trail say that cars have the right of way over cyclists and hikers when the latter cross a road.

The rules of the trail also inform us that hikers have the right of way over bikers. Bikers must yield not only to cars but also to hikers.

This rule keeps the trail as the trail. If bikers keep forcing hikers off the trail, it erodes our property, causing damage to the area and increasing maintenance costs.

So if you’re biking and a hiker is coming your way, please stop. Let the hiker walk past you on the same trail. If the biker comes up from behind to a hiker, stop, dismount and carry your bike past the hiker on the same trail. Then continue your ride.

We all have a part in knowing, obeying and enforcing the rules. We all have a part in maintaining the trails for all. Common sense and education help us all. Stephen L. McKee Bella Vista

A place to call home

I love my community. That community is Bella Vista. I had the pleasure of running for Bella Vista City Council this past year and it was an amazing experience. The most important interaction I had was knocking on doors of residents and learning what makes them happy living here, their concerns and what they see Bella Vista as in the future.

Even on Social Media, I would have interactions where residents didn’t agree with what I thought and most of the time, they would take the time and meet me in person; then the conversation went way better than it did through a computer or phone screen.

From the start, residents don’t have to agree with me, but as long as we have respect for each other, it will be fine. I came up short with 43 percent of the vote against the incumbent John Flynn. John has always been a nice gentleman and continued to be through the campaign as we were both trying to get the Ward 1 seat. This was a great example of how political opponents should treat each other.

The turnout was great (over 50 percent), and I applaud the residents showing up and having their voice heard. Also, congratulations to Mayor Christie, Steven Bourke, Larry Wilms on winning the other seats.

There have been events that have brought the community together, but the most recent one is the stump dump fire on Trafalgar Road. It has been covered a lot by this newspaper and the local TV stations.

One person that stood out was Amber Goin. She organized a community meeting (that was put together in four to five days) about the fire held on Dec. 1. Great job Amber!

There was a moderator who gave city officials, ADEQ, ADH and many other people who are concerned about the fire a chance to speak. Also, at the Dec. 17 Bella Vista City Council meeting, residents and members spoke on what the plan is to extinguish the fire.

As long as we keep being involved and be respectful in these situations, Bella Vista will keep being “a place to call home.”

Thank you,

Dylan Shaddox Bella Vista