Join the discussion on the following article:
Ventura County issues response to Fillmore & Western STB filing
MEL & MO MILLER: Without comment on whether or not there might be a trail agenda at work here, I take exception to your continued and repetitive, pejorative use of the term “yuppies” in reference to bike trail users. Frankly, you are starting to sound a little bit like Mr. Guse.
As an avid railfan who is also a regular bicyclist and trail user, I hardly fit the stereotype, being a retired ironworker and union member. Sure, there are the buffoons among the bikers (day-glo spandex; gaudy helmets and other showy gear), as there are among the railfan community (vests and caps festooned with meet pins; ridiculous, phallic zoom lenses). But most of us in both pursuits are just plain folks who have many different kinds of jobs, modest homes, kids, grandkids, etc., and who are simply out there doing what we enjoy.
I invite members of this discussion group to check out the the “Rails to Trails Conservancy” website. You might find it interesting and enlightening:
The VCTC want’s the right-o-way really bad for the yuppies to have their bike trail; never mind the benefits Fillmore receive in tourist dollars
Speaking of the Gusenut, where’s the Goose???
Congratulations Mr. Kuehn. Mel & Mo Miller are among the worst abusers of this site and if Mr. Guse is to be denied access then so should Mr. Miller. He is worst in making personal attacks. Anyone who doesn’t agree with his liberal pro-Amtrak way of thinking is trashed. I am not a bike rider but I use our local rail trail for running and am very glad to have it. I doubt if anyone would call me a yuppie as I am a former woods camp accountant and drive an old pick-up truck. If we are going to clear up this site of trolls then Mr. Miller should be one of the first to go.
Well said on all counts, Mr. Harrison.
I do mostly agree with Mr Kuehn. It’s not just Mel & Mo, I see a general obsession by many here with attacking environmentalists, cyclists, and other groups unrelated to rail as natural opponents when many (most) are actually pro-rail.
Cyclists do have a problem though in that the Rails-to-Trails movement overreaches frequently, and does so “in their name”. They do need a louder voice, arguing for rails-with-trails where possible, and speaking out against naked abuses of trail policies where it’s obvious the intent is to destroy a railroad, rather than build a trail.
As both a lifelong rail fan and someone concerned with a heathy environment (and many if not most environmentalists are pro-rail) I concur with Mr. Harrison.
A CLAIFORNIAN ONCE SAID: “CAN’T WE ALL GET ALONG?”
THE TRAIN IS THERE, THE RR MAKES A BUCK, PEOPLE GET PAYCHECKS & PAY TAXES. WHY THE RUSH TO BOOT THEM OUT? A BIKE PATH CAN BE CLEARED ALMOST ANYWHERE, BUT ONCE THE TRACK IS GONE, IT’LL STAY GONE.
So you call Amtrak supporters “Liberals” Mr. McGuire. I have news for you. Several Conservative DO support Amtrak because they see there is a needs for Passenger service. Remember Sen. Trent Lott (R) Miss. ? He was a big champion for Amtrak. I suppose you don’t want the Downeaster in your state. Mr. McGuire, YOU are the troll!