Editor,
I’m writing in regards to the article written by staff writer
Karina Ioffee. I am just wondering at which point Ioffee will use
actual facts in her articles she reports to the public? It seems to
me that every article she writes about Hollister Hills contains
biased information, as well as information that is incorrect.
Editor,
I’m writing in regards to the article written by staff writer Karina Ioffee. I am just wondering at which point Ioffee will use actual facts in her articles she reports to the public? It seems to me that every article she writes about Hollister Hills contains biased information, as well as information that is incorrect.
I have been riding at Hollister Hills for over 15 years and currently work with motorcycles on a daily basis. I would like to set the record straight. Spark arrestors are not required on bikes to prevent explosions, which Ioffee wrote in her article on Dec. 14.
In the most recent article on March 19, she states the park should raise the entry fee prices to help put more rangers on the trails. The park actually raised all prices back in July 2004. The day use fee is $5, camping is $10 per vehicle and the annual day use pass is $50. Also, the park is not planning on expanding 3,330 acres, the actual number is close to 200. Putting speed limits on trails are not going to prevent the rider from speeding. People cannot even obey speed limits on highways! How do you expect riders to obey speed limits when they don’t come with speedometers?
I find it disheartening to not only have information that is incorrect in a paper, but to read an article that seems to be against the park. It is terrible to hear about the young men who have died riding at Hollister Hills and my sympathy goes out to their families, but motorcycle safety is on the rider. Perfect practice makes perfect, but even the best of riders can get hurt. Two out of the four deaths since 2003 were racers and rode constantly.
I urge everyone who attends Hollister Hills to ride with friends and don’t ride beyond your limitations. Accidents can happen to even the best of us. So, if we do everything in our power to prevent getting hurt, there should be no excuses. Hopefully articles will start to show the truth.
Thomas Grady, Santa Clara
Editor’s note: The opinions Mr. Grady refers to – raising entrance fees and installing speed limit signs – are those of Sarah Heredia whose cousin died at the park.
