Letters to the editor

Editor,

It’s a new year and we need more bike capacity on Caltrain as soon as possible.

Bike ridership is a key part of the Caltrain system and requires just a little work from Caltrain to provide more onboard capacity.

Let’s think big about on-board bike capacity on Caltrain.

Justin Eichenlaub

San Francisco

Bikes onboard Caltrain

Editor,

Without the Bikes Onboard program, I would drive rather than take Caltrain. Bumping is a real deterrent to biking with Caltrain. If a transit mode cannot offer reliable time of arrival, people will not use it.

I take Caltrain for several reasons. It is the right thing to do for the environment and the future of the planet, it is the right thing to offer my fellow Bay Area residents, to relieve traffic congestion and it provides me with personal benefits — a healthy brief workout four times each day with no traffic stress, and extra time to work and relax.

Caltrain riders who are deterred from biking (due to bumping fears) represent lost ridership. In this new era of cheap-again gas and recession-induced reduced traffic congestion, last year’s recent gains in ridership are at risk of loss if Caltrain riders and bikers revert to driving.

Jaime Guerrero

San Francisco

Caltrain reform

Editor,

I am pleased to hear Caltrain is taking action to address the problem of insufficient space for cyclists during commute times, also known as "getting bumped.” I am a loyal customer who buys a monthly pass and I look forward to the day when Caltrain, the "proof of payment” public transporter, can also be a "proof of capacity” system.

If only Muni buses ran with the precision that Caltrain does, then it might work for me to use Muni to get to the Fourth and King station in the morning. However, Muni is just not reliable in that way and I have missed the southbound 220 a time or two while trying to connect via the Muni system.

Yes, there is a shuttle at the other end of my commute. I could perhaps leave my bike at the station, but I often work past the time the last shuttle returns to the San Carlos station in the evening.

Given the above, it works best for me to bring my bike onboard Caltrain and I am very grateful for the privilege to do so. I am committed to do my part to ease congestion on the highways and fight global warming by using my car as little as possible. I am glad to have Caltrain as a partner in

this and urge an increase in onboard bike capacity so that others can follow and become regular customers like I am.

Michael Hopkins

San Francisco

Caltrain finally taking action

Editor,

I am pleased to hear that Caltrain is taking action to address the problem of insufficient space for cyclists during commute times, also known as ‘getting bumped.’ I am a loyal customer who buys a monthly pass every month and I look forward to the day when Caltrain — the ‘proof of payment’ public transporter — can also be a "proof-of-capacity” system.

If only Muni buses ran with the precision that Caltrain does, then it might work for me to use Muni to get to the Fourth Avenue and King station in the morning. However, Muni is just not reliable in that way and I have missed the southbound 220 a time or two while trying to connect via the Muni system.

And yes, there is a shuttle at the other end of my commute. I could perhaps leave my bike at the station, but I often work past the time the last shuttle returns to the San Carlos station in the evening.

Given the above, it works best for me to bring my bike on board Caltrain and I am very grateful for the privilege to do so. I am committed to do my part to ease congestion on the highways and fight global warming by using my car as little as possible. I am glad to have Caltrain as a partner in this and urge an increase in on board bike capacity so that others can follow and become regular customers like me.

Michael Hopkins

San Francisco

Gaza deaths

Editor,

If one accepts Mr. Lipman’s reasoning, the Israelis are not responsible for any deaths in Gaza. One cannot tell if the dead are civilians, since Hamas is fighting without uniforms. Any actual civilian deaths are the fault of Hamas, since they do not have the courtesy to put a bull's-eye on their chests and walk out into the open to be slaughtered. Why are the Israelis not allowing foreign correspondents into Gaza? Is there something to hide? As far as Jenin goes, Mr Lipman thinks the number of deaths in that refugee camp were exaggerated in 2002. We will never know, since the Israelis refused to allow an international team in to investigate. But this is the modus operandi for the "only democracy” in the Middle East.

Alfred Lerner

San Carlos

Who cares more for Palestinians?

Editor,

Tragically there are Palestinian civilian casualties in the Gazan war, even though Israel, in many cases, warns Palestinians to evacuate the mosques and schools and homes to where katusha rockets are fired.

Still, it is difficult when Hamas deliberately uses the innocent as human shields. Makes one wonder who really cares more about the lives of Palestinian women and children.

Scott Abramson

San Mateo

Bin Laden’s latest attempts ‘insane’

Dear Editor,

The latest audio tape from Osama bin Laden called for all Muslims to commit to Jihad against Israel to revenge the Palestinians killed in Gaza’s war.

This, mind you, comes from a Muslim who has zero remorse in killing scores of his own brethren in suicide bombings and skirmishes.

Is this insane or not?

Phil Smaller

Palo Alto