Letters - The death this week of visitor Martha Hoopes has raised public concern

We have to act before others are killed
Dear Sir,
Please – we have to do something before another innocent person dies.
I have been saying for years that either a three-wheeled bike or a golf cart would be much better than a two- wheeled scooter.
It’s bad enough that many of these visitors have to learn in the five minutes of training they get from the rental agencies to drive on the left side of the road, to navigate two-way streets that aren’t even as wide as a one-way street in the U.S., to deal with someone tailgating you, the likes of which I have never experienced outside Bermuda.
In addition, tourists are made to be more nervous by the ‘tooting’ of the car horns as a form of communication here. We only use horns in the U.S. when we are upset — not here. All of these things when combined with the curvy and winding roads, often with walls on either side, make for a dangerous situation to tourists.
Please encourage the government to come up with a viable alternative for the tourists.
When I arrived here from the states I was distracted for one second and thoughtlessly went to the right side of the road on my moped (and who wouldn’t after driving on the right for 25 years?). I hit a van head on and was lucky I myself was not killed.
I will never ride a bike here again but would consider a three-wheeled scooter or a golf cart. I could get by quite nicely with one I think. Why do we need SUVs on a tiny island?             Tourists and locals could benefit from golf carts or electric cars or three-wheeled mopeds.

Jennifer Swisher
Warwick

No pillions for teens 
Dear Sir,
[I advocate] Project Ride for teens and no pillion passenger allowed for 16 year olds.
All a visitor has to do is ride around for five minutes, and they are given the go-ahead.  
Wow, why does it always have to come down to money lost versus lives saved? So sad!
Donna Foggo,
Devonshire

The mighty dollar overrides safety issues
Dear Sir,
This is in response to your request for public input in reference to an alternative/s mean of protecting tourist/locals alike, on our ever so dangerous roadways.
May I suggest now is time for the laws regarding visitors renting mopeds to change… especially for those visitors that have no previous experience riding on Bermuda roadways; I recommend that people have an option of renting either a two-wheel bike or the new and improved (specially designed) three-wheel-tricycle.
It is time people, (the bike rental business) think in terms of safety as oppose to the mighty dollar that has altered so many peoples’ lives.

Raymond Ray
Tucker’s Town

Three wheels are the answer
Dear Sir,
With regard to how to help tourists be safer on the roads — the three-wheeled  scooter is the only way to go.  
There are plenty of them out there, and they’re available all over the Far East.          It should be mandatory for all rental companies here to stock these three-wheelers instead of the two wheeled gas version.      Tourists with children as passengers should not be given the choice — they would have to hire the three-wheelers.  
Simple really — rental companies should not put profit above safety.
Another related thought is that all 16 year olds who are thinking about getting their first bike — it should be mandatory that they have a probationary year (or two) on an electric three-wheeler before progressing, if they wish, to two wheels.  
     
Alison Dodd
Pembroke