Fiction: NWP RIGHT OF WAY TO BIKE PATH?

AP: Novato, CA The citizens of Marin and Sonoma Counties have vowed to turn out in force to prevent the former Northwestern Pacific Railroad right of way from being converted into a bike path. Homeowner Myrtle Smuckwatz is concerned that an environmental impact report, paid for with taxpayers money, which did not adequately address the true number of bicycle idiots, who might pass by her back yard fence. "Why all those men in extra tight, extra bright, short pants will be leering at me as I water my backyard weeds," she testified before the city council. "Hoodlum bicyclists might litter our communities, and pass gas," echoed resident Elmer Justaminute, who went on to state, "It could be much worse than those noisy freight trains whistling through town, four to six times per day" "We want hundreds of trucks, with open tops, to carry our overflowing landfills' waste through our towns!" shouted homeowner Cleftus Cleege.

County Supervisor I.G. Ottabuck, brought up the possibility that expensive light weight bikes passing through town, with little or no warning signals, would pose a serious hazard to pedestrians, wildlife and traffic. The Supervisor noted that bikes do not make much noise, and therefore they sneak up on people, animals, birds and vehicles. The Supervisor was quoted as saying, "There would be inadequate warning at road crossings, to protect motorists." "Besides you never can tell when the bicyclists might rob a convenience store, then escape, slipping quickly and quietly out of town along the proposed bike path."

County Supervisor D.E. Veloper added that NWP train crews sometimes stopped in his town to set out or pick up freight cars from paying railroad customers. NWP employes were also were known to have patronized local establishments. The Supervisor stated, "Bicyclists usually carry their own water, food, and snacks and don't purchase much of anything." "They might even find a gas station, then seek "free" air for their bike tires!" "Or worse yet, a park with a public drinking fountain where they could fill their water bottles!" The Supervisor pointed out that the new NWP would bring tax dollars to many of the towns along the route. The new NWP could even be regulated, and might mean a few new good paying jobs, which could be taxed.

The debate raged into the night covering the following points:
Questions were raised if the proposed five foot wide bike path would be concrete or asphalt, and what impact this would have on the former right of way's ground water, and storm runoff.

A Sierra Club Spokesperson along with the Audobaun Society Spokesperson stated that a rare eco-system now thrives on the former NWP right of way. Hybrid weeds, along with as yet undocumented new weed species have been growing, altered by the combination of creosote and various herbicide residues. Some of this vegetation provides habitat and food for birds and insects. The spokespersons recommended that the present vegetation must be studied for a minimum of fifty years, and therefore cannot be disturbed. Even if the bike path only covered a portion of this habitat, bicyclists who strayed off the path might cause irreparable damage.


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