My wife and I were in Phoenix for Christmas, and I read your article in The Times entitled “Berth Rights” (December 2011). I have the following comments. The 3-foot clearance law would not have changed the two incidents mentioned at the start of your article. Was this a convenience to carve out a right at motorist expense? Motorists pay for the streets and roads through gas tax. Bicyclists pay nothing. Motorists must obtain a driver’s license by passing a written exam and demonstrate the ability to safely drive a vehicle. Bicyclists are not subject to either requirement. Motorists are required to carry liability insurance. Bicyclists have no such requirement. In fairness to motorists, anyone who has observed bicyclists in action knows they are unpredictable and, depending on the situation, they will act as a vehicle or a pedestrian for expedience. Many times they will cycle through red lights and, rarely, do they stop for stop signs. Bicyclists are not allowed on freeways for good reason. Rather than reduce the speed limit to accommodate bicyclists, shouldn’t some roads be off limits to bicyclists? Good judgment might be to not ride a bicycle in certain areas. If motorists impede the flow of traffic by going slow, they will be cited. Shouldn’t bicyclists be cited for the same offense? Shouldn’t a bicyclist who wishes to ride on a street or road with a posted speed limit in excess of 25 mph be required to be licensed after passing a written exam? Shouldn’t they carry liability insurance? Shouldn’t they be restricted to operation during daylight hours? The last session of the legislature in my state (Nevada) passed what appears to be a similar law. I was not aware of this law until I heard of it on a local radio station. Why wasn’t the driving public included in this discussion? Rights have responsibilities. Sincerely, Alan T. Power, Motorist

What do I think about “Berth Rights” (December 2011) for bicyclists? This is the same group that can scream their lungs out at a sports bar but become the silent menace behind you and can’t make (inaudible) on your left no matter what.

Who raised all those rude, greedy, stampeding people at the malls? Oh yeah, I remember now! It’s all those TV-raised generations.

Hey, good afternoon, my Sound Off is about the bicycle rider’s 3-foot berth (December 2011). I absolutely agree with it. I try to abide by it. I got an interesting situation. I live at Price Road and Warner in Tempe. As I was sitting at the light in my pick-up truck, the bicyclist that was in the right lane, in the bicycle lane, weaves through traffic and gets directly in front of me as I am going through the intersection to turn left. I thought, if I weren’t in uniform — which I have a job that requires a uniform — I would have gotten out of the truck and told him to get his butt out of my way and don’t pull in front of me when I’m the first one in line. Bicyclists can’t have it both ways. If they want to abide by the rules, they have to learn the rules. They should have been at the very back of the pack behind three or four other cars, waiting to make his left turn instead of weaving through, cutting right in front of me. I barely made that light because of him. Anyway, I hope this makes sense. My name is Jerry. I appreciate your Sound Off column.

Regarding the No Pants Light Rail Ride: I’m torn. On one hand, I not only support, but often encourage the disrobing of the female form at any time for most any reason. On the other, location, location, location. I worry that since the annual event is now posted in popular Valley publishings well in advance rather than conducted underground without mainstream declaration, it may soon evolve into somewhat of a second Christmas for every registered offender with a shoe-cam. Not to mention a potentially mind-altering experience for any still-developing brain under the age of 12 that should haplessly board the carnal caravan. I won’t even get into the issue of hygiene and public seating. Approaching station — Washington and Crab Street. Exit to left.

I just finished watching the Dr. Phil Show. He had this man who had three wives and 24 children. Why is it always one man versus plural wives? Why couldn’t it be one woman with plural husbands? I think that would be more interesting and better.

Yeah, it don’t make no sense how the Hispanics can come here into Arizona, purchase land, homes and stuff like that, then they get them and then they start renting them out to relatives and illegals and everything. If we were to go to Mexico and purchase land, we cannot purchase land or property over there. We are not allowed to. They won’t let us. So as far as I’m concerned, I don’t think the Hispanics should come to the United States and purchase land or property or homes. The thing is, we have so many of them around here, then they rent them out to relatives who don’t care and destroy our neighborhood. When this 1070 first came out, it cleaned out our neighborhood from all these Hispanics. This is the best I’ve seen my neighborhood in over 30 years I’ve lived in it, without any problems of racing down the neighborhood, being drunk, walking in the neighborhood carrying cases of beer and being drunk or whatever. But since this thing of trying to chase Sheriff Joe Arpaio out and all this other stuff, my neighborhood is starting to look run down again because all the illegals are coming back in my neighborhood, in low-rent apartments that are torn down and messed up. I think they ought to fix it, let 1070 go through. Let Sheriff Joe Arpaio do what he needs to do, get all the illegals out of here so we can get control of our state again. If we can’t buy anything over there, they should not come to the States and buy anything from us. They’re illegal. Get your immigration papers. Do what you need to, and things will be different. My mom was an immigrant. She did what she was supposed to. She lived here legally all her life, got a job, helped my dad paying the bills and everything. If she can do it, you know what, they can do it. I’m not gonna wait on them anymore. I’m tired of getting used. And them coming around and trying to say I’m prejudiced when I’m not. I know what it’s like to be in that situation. I saw it from my mom, a hard worker. She can do it, anybody else can do it.

Driving visitors in the Valley along the 202 and the 101 in the Mesa area, they were amazed at the Indian artwork and the green vegetation along the banks. We were ashamed of the amount of litter, trash included in the scenery for miles. Shame on Arizona highways.

Regarding the Target sit-in: Babies have always been smarter than parents. They give the signs of hunger and elimination. But parents just don’t pay enough attention to anything but their own schedules. Pay attention, pay attention, pay attention.

My family has deep roots in farming and dairy in Arizona. Growing up, I have always been told that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. We teach our kids that it’s best to stick it out and that part of life’s challenges is to push through adversity. By changing your environment, it doesn’t always mean your troubles suddenly disappear. In fact, they usually follow. Paul Gosar is currently my congressman, and I have campaigned for him. My family even planned a May fundraiser earlier this year at our home in Show Low. Gosar and his staff never communicated with me until the last moment and suddenly canceled the event after months of planning. I knew then that Paul Gosar had staff problems, since they did not plan and failed to communicate. I also knew that Paul Gosar’s support was weak, since most people showed little interest in supporting him, mainly since he was the only Arizona Republican to vote to increase the debt ceiling. Paul Gosar should heed the old saying, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Being unorganized, failing to communicate and running at the first sign of a fight are organizational and character flaws. These problems just don’t go away by moving from the eastern to the western portions of Arizona. — Scott Blevins

I want to chime in about the Mesa Public Library. I usually frequent the Mesa Red Mountain Branch. A couple things that I mentioned to people there in charge and I’ve also called the library director, regarding cell phone use and the general purpose that people used to be “shh” in the library. Now I see people on their cell phones. I guess they don’t see the signs. I mentioned to the library folks to put up more signs to put your cell phone on vibrate or turn it off. If you have to talk on it, please go outside. How did we do it before, before cell phones? Anyway, I just wanted to sound off about that. I think the library needs to put up more signs. I think half the people can’t read English. I think they probably need to put up Spanish signs also about cell phones. Please turn them off or turn them on vibrate. When they do ring in your pocket, go outside and answer them. We don’t need to know your whole life story. We don’t need to hear you try to sell things on the telephone, making the library a business client. I just wanted to let people know that. Things aren’t changing. I think next time I’m going to take one of the signs and actually take it up to the desk. Also I think the library needs to start being open on Monday again — both Red Mountain and Dobson. I think I’ve read in the paper that the City of Mesa is taking in more money. Instead of paying it to the Cubs, let’s open the libraries on Monday and even charge to get a library card every year. I think that would bring in some money.

A news report states organized crime is now here in Phoenix and Tempe. Newsflash: It’s been here since the good old big city boys retired to their desert homes and blew up a reporter almost 50 years ago. You’ve all just had your heads under the covers. Shame on you. Bye.

Editor’s Note: The caller is referring of course to the brutal and cowardly murder of Arizona Republic investigative journalist Don Bolles, which was not quite 50 years ago. Bolles had been fearlessly reporting on organized crime and corruption in the Valley when a remote-control bomb exploded on his vehicle on the morning of June 2, 1976, which also happened to be his eighth wedding anniversary. Bolles died 11 days later.

Why have viewers allowed so much of television to dissolve into grammar school-type bathroom humor entertainment? Yuck. Time to grow up, producers. Time to grow up.

Create jobs, buy American and cut back buying products from Asia and shop local as much as possible. Boycott Walmarts. — William Zaffer

For the immigrants or the Hispanics who think they’re being discriminated against because of Sheriff Joe Arpaio: I’m sorry, if you came into this country illegally then you get what you deserve. Years ago — I am a white person — at the time my first husband left me, I had three children. When I went in to apply for food stamps, because I was white, I was not going to get food stamps. I was discriminated against because I was white when everybody there was Hispanic. They looked at me like, “What are you doing here, white girl?” You know what? What’s funny was when I walked out of that building, when I knew I qualified for food stamps, someone come running out and said, “Hey, we need to talk to you.” I went back in with my three children, they had me go around to the back. “I see you qualify for food stamps now.” I go, “Why is it five minutes ago I did not qualify for food stamps and all of a sudden I do now?” They go, “Because your youngest child is Hispanic.” Excuse me, all my children are white. Nobody discriminates. It’s how you look at it and you just don’t like somebody and you go after discrimination words to make you look tough. Go, Joe Arpaio! I’m rooting for you.

I just started reading your paper around two months ago, and I really enjoy all the different types of interesting information and activities. I found it hard to believe that in this country’s hard times you’ve still found a way to offer this wonderful paper free of charge. Thank you and keep up the good work. — Sylvia Hernandez

Editor’s Note: Thank you so much for the kind words, Sylvia. It is a labor of love, believe me. Please note, however, that this publication is made possible only due to its loyal advertisers. The next time you are in a business advertising in The Times, it does us more good than we can possibly express to have you tell them you saw their ad in this publication. Thanks again!

Happy New Year to one and all. All the parades were just great, and only Arizona knows how to put one on TV with no interrupting commercials. The other guys are still too dumb to run streamers across the bottom and not interrupt the beauty of the parades. That’s what greedy gets you. Greedy, greedy, greedy. Thank you.

No more European chocolates and freshly cut exotic flowers for my wife on Valentine’s Day. It’s time for something special and long term, like a new washer and dryer.

Two million dollars just donated to another politician. What unidentified corporation just tied a string around his little finger, again?

I went to a fashion show today, and most of the models weren’t all that beautiful. They were wearing clashing patterns and talking on cellphones. One carried a crying baby, another a garbage bag of what appeared to be aluminum cans. And when each model got to the end of the catwalk, they took a seat in the audience. Then suddenly, I realized I was still on the bus.

Regarding this “Berth Right” (December 2011) for bike riders: I was coming off Superstition Springs Boulevard onto Southern and I had the green light making the turn, and two bike riders breezed up Southern heading to the west. They didn’t stop for the light at all. They just came right on through. They want 3 feet? They might wind up with 6 if they keep riding up like that. Young people, too. Young adults. That’s all I gotta say.

Regarding the debate, years ago the ignorant knocked the Catholic president. Today it’s the Mormon. But how many Mormons do you see in the homeless and hungry line today? They have a plan. It’s probably time we try it. Think about it.

Who do you think in today’s news needs the most help? The obvious mental patient or the lawyer who demands a patient be cured so they can have a high-profile trial and then send the patient back to more imprisonment? What a crazy society we have become.

Only in Arizona would voters retain a 79-year-old misanthrope as the county senior law enforcement officer for nearly two decades. Moreover, has anyone else noticed Paul Babeu, a former police officer in Chandler and currently the Pinal County sheriff, is nothing more than Joe Arpaio lite — literally and metaphorically.

For those trying to drop the second amendment for a regulated militia, wouldn’t that cheat us all out of the National Guard?

With all of this pay it forward talk, where was everyone when Bill Heywood lost his home and his wife’s illness bills were so high? Some people are too humble to ask for help, especially charity promoters. Life’s too precious. Is the almighty dollar so important it causes us to lose one so vital? Open your purse strings, humanity. The lessons are heartbreaking.

My kids go to an elementary school here in town and I say, this is America, if people are going to come to America they need to learn our language. Then we get a flier in their packet to go home: “Have your kids learn Spanish, kindergarten through sixth grade.” Costing 120 bucks. You’ve got to be ridiculous. As far as I’m concerned, the Spanish need to be learning English. The only way my kids are going to learn Spanish is if they get to junior high or high school and it’s a requirement to take some, um, language. You know what? It won’t be Spanish. It’s going to be French. That’s my heritage. French. This is ridiculous. We have to pay to learn this, and I do not want it taught in the elementary schools. It should not be taught. English should be taught if the Spanish come to our country. We shouldn’t have to learn their dang language.

How come “Grimace” has slowly disappeared from the McDonald’s cast of characters? Could it be because after a few years and a few billion hamburgers sold, the only visual difference between Grimace and the average McDonald’s customer was the color purple?

For George Romney it was all about Vietnam brainwashing during the 1968 GOP presidential primaries. For his son Mitt, it’s now all about bainwashing [sic].

Editor’s Note: In calling it “bainwashing,” caller is referring to Mr. Romney’s former company Bain Capital.

As bad as the latest, most disturbing picture of dehumanizing war actions can be, it does show the underlying public sentiment of the stupidity of any war to begin with.

What American politics — embarrassing as it is — needs today are more working historians, realists and survivors of past mistakes. Please get up and help.

Yes, good morning. I would like to draw attention to the lack of penalties for cyclists being run over. In the past 20 years, my experiences have been engrained into my memory banks. A friend of mine in Flagstaff was killed by a motorist who was not paying attention. The penalty was a $25 failure-to-yield ticket. Another lady was hit up in Pinnacle Peak; the garbage truck driver got $100 ticket. Last summer there was a 7-year-old little girl riding her bike with her family in the bicycle lane, she was run over from behind and killed by a 16-year-old kid who was not paying attention. Police determined the driver was not impaired, was not speeding. There was no citation issued. A follow-up story for your cyclist 3-foot law (Berth Rights, December 2011) — which I appreciate very much — would be what happens when someone does get killed or seriously injured. Essentially, there’s no penalty. If the same type of injuries were created by a gun or a knife, the person would be in jail. The precedent that’s being set here is if you kill someone while they’re riding a bicycle, you might have $100 ticket, probably a $25 ticket. If you weren’t drunk and you weren’t speeding, you’ll probably get away scot-free. Thank you for the opportunity to sound off.

Oh gee, after 26 years of room and board, medical care and additional education, the law is finally going to finally punish a couple more convicted murderers. Doesn’t your heart just bleed for their final fate? It’s almost as tragic as the poor pedophiles and priests still being outed every year.

Good morning. For the people in the Tucson area that complain their Mexican heritage was stolen: Check history please. Mexico sold you all to the United States long ago. If you don’t like it here, all you have to do is go south a few miles and you’ll be home again. Problem solved.

Hello, my name is Michelle, and I have to sound off. I am so sick of dealing with this situation on airplanes. I travel three weeks out of every month, out on a Monday back on a Friday. So I am on planes consistently. Every single plane I get on has the same situation going on. This has to do with people who are purchasing seats who do not fit into the singular seat they have purchased. OK, it’s simple mathematics, folks. The seats are 14 inches wide. That’s your space, and that’s what you pay for. When your heiney is 28 inches wide, then you’re taking somebody else’s seat. So if you can’t fit your heiney in the seat that you purchased, buy two seats or take a car. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had somebody else’s love rolls falling over into my seat, rubbing up against my leg, my thigh. It is disgusting. I am really not personally concerned with why your heiney is 28 inches wide, I just care that it stays in your own space. When you start coming into my space, that’s my concern. And it is my business. I will sound off about this every single time it happens. So if you happen to be the person whose heiney is not fitting in the seat, woe to you if you happen to be sitting next to me. I will make a scene, and I will make sure that each of us is in our own seat — singular.