Drivers should always operate their vehicles in a manner such that they can come to a full stop within their sight distance. This may require driving below the posted speed limit. It depends upon the condition of the road, the prevailing weather, the condition of their vehicle, the skill and experience of the driver, and the drivers physical and mental state at the time. That slow moving object on the road may not be a cyclist. It could be a deer, a fallen rock, or something that fell off someone's roof or the back of a pickup. Who do you blame if you hit one of those?
When I want to pass a cyclist, I wait until my sight distance is sufficient for me to pull entirely into the opposite lane. This may be more than is legally required but it keeps me from rushing and cheating and possibly putting myself and others in danger. It is exactly what you would do if passing another motor vehicle It also extends courtesy and respect to the cyclist, which often does more for the giver than the receiver.
Still, there is an irrational aspect of the anger vented at cyclists, by not only the operators of motor vehicles, but also the passengers, that I have yet to comprehend. It is remarkable how often I am riding my bike in Steamboat Springs, and a passenger will roll down the window and yell something abusive at me for no reason whatsoever.. Due to the Doppler Effect, I sometimes don't hear everything clearly. But I particularly enjoy when I can catch up to them at a red light and ask them if they would please repeat what they said. It is more often than not a young person who is doing this. Can someone explain this phenomenon?
How much "potential population growth" does the space needs study anticipate in Routt County in the next 25 years? What is the basis of its assumption?
Private profit, public risk. Do government bureaucrats ever learn?
Scott,
Note the request for highly variable rebates on sales and lodging tax that help push risk onto the town..
If the project doesn't meet developers' projections, who pays? Who benefits? Is it worth it for 10 mostly lousy jobs? What demands will this place on infrastructure? Who pays for that?
Bankers aren't stupid. There's a reason they won't finance the project.
Government should stay out of the development game and focus on keeping its own house in order. They've never been very good at either.
You've got to be kidding! You're going to reduce waste by producing and distributing more waste?
Is this really the best way for a non-profit, that receives public funding, to utilize its limited assets (i.e. money, and the time and energy of its employees and volunteers)?
If I go to the supermarket and forget my reusable bags, I load my groceries back into my cart, wheel it out to my car or bike, and transfer the groceries directly into my vehicle. You don't need a bag.
But, as a reminder to bring my bags, I often hang them right on my doorknob.
This is the second SUP application on which Quicksilver displayed negligence by failing to meet its contractual obligations. The first time, the County bent over backwards by granting an exemption from a wildlife condition. The County also scheduled a public hearing on the SUP application but did not provide proper legal public notice. The error was obvious to citizens who notified the County on the day of the scheduled hearing. The hearing was subsequently postponed.
Ms. Hale's first sentence misrepresents the facts. The County has taken no regulatory action whatsoever. Routt County has only revised their template of conditions of approval. Commissioners have no legal obligation to attach these conditions to any SUP (Special Use Permit). I have noticed that many people who are participating in these Oil and Gas discussions have no idea what the difference is between a Regulation and a Condition of Approval.
Regarding Mr. Hartless's contention that citizen's are unwilling to pay to keep minerals in the ground or to preserve water quality, that is not true. The Thompson Divide Coalition has raised two and a half million dollars to buy out exploration leases on public land. But State law puts a hurdle in front of them. They must show that the land must be used in a "productive" manner, but does not define "productive".
Regarding Mr. Duckels' comment about so-called environmentalists sticking the proverbial "camel's nose under the tent", consider the following behavior by the O&G industry: In the case of the exploration leases that the Thompson Divide Coalition wants to buy out, the industry is now bringing legal action to get the State to "unitize" the leases. This means that if the industry proceeds with development on one leased parcel, all the other leases get extended. Otherwise, the other exploration leases would expire and be worthless.
Our Commissioners already bent over backwards once to accomodate Quicksilver Resources when they were in danger of having one of their leases expire due to no one's fault but their own.
Finally, regarding Ms. Hales assertion, in her fourth paragraph, that the State must protect all aspects of private property lest all value in property be lost, consider the following: At least one person's house and land in Milner has already been rendered unsalable, and therefore without value, due to the actions of Quicksilver Resources. When confronted with this sticky problem at a meeting, Quicksilver spokesperson Steve Lindsay had nothing useful to say. Keep in mind that the energy boom has not even begun here. We are in the exploration phase. How many people will experience diminished property values when there are thousands of wells?
While surface rights are subservient to mineral rights, there is also precedent in the law to encourage development of mineral resources prior to surface development. Since the mineral rights owners did not do this, they must now respect the rights of surface owners. The mineral rights that your grandfather may have bought at a tax lien sale are a highly speculative investment. If he wanted a guarantee of return, then he should have bought a Certificate of Deposit instead. Imagine how wealthy you would have been had he done so.
The CSPR group should more appropriately be referred to as Citizens Supporting Their Own Mineral Rights At The Expense Of Surface Rights Owners, Property Owners, and All Routt County Citizens Who Breathe, Drink, And Live.
As long as the State's enforcement agency is woefully understaffed and ineffective, the LGD, and the newly concocted LGD process, will remain impotent, Planning Staff's opinion notwithstanding.
The content of Mr. Thompson's letter is more of the same carefully crafted but misleading propaganda that his group, and industry representatives delivered during the better part of Thursday's three hour meeting.
The CSPR (Citizens Supporting Property Rights) group should more appropriately be called Citizens Supporting Their Own Mineral Rights At The Expense of Surface Rights Owners, Property Owners, and All Routt County Citizens Who Breathe, Drink, and Live.
As long as the State's enforcement agency remains woefully understaffed and toothless, the LGD process will remain impotent, (Planning Staff's opinion notwithstanding).
I find the link between your column and Joanne's tenuous. One could write myriad opinion pieces under the headline, "Are We Not Better Than This?"
Since Joanne's column dealt with our choice of words and how it affects other people, and since your stock in trade is the written word, I would like to comment on the choice that you made.
To refer to people who are labelled as retarded, you used the phrase "undesired mental or physical conditions".
NY Times columnist Ross Douthat referred to people with Down syndrome as having "undesired traits".
I don't know that I would feel better if the schoolyard bully told me I was undesired rather than retarded.
But since it's currently okay, in the ever shifting field of political correctness, let me say that Anne Coulter has undesired mental or physical conditions.
Stuart Orzach 2 hours, 53 minutes ago on Rob Douglas: ‘Let’s be careful out there’
Rob Douglas: ‘Let’s be careful out there’
Stuart Orzach 2 weeks, 2 days ago on Revived plan to build police station in Steamboat Springs clears important hurdle
Revived plan to build police station in Steamboat Springs clears important hurdle
How much "potential population growth" does the space needs study anticipate in Routt County in the next 25 years? What is the basis of its assumption?
Stuart Orzach 3 weeks, 1 day ago on Tax incentives sought to make Hayden hotel a reality
Tax incentives sought to make Hayden hotel a reality
Private profit, public risk. Do government bureaucrats ever learn?
Scott, Note the request for highly variable rebates on sales and lodging tax that help push risk onto the town..
If the project doesn't meet developers' projections, who pays? Who benefits? Is it worth it for 10 mostly lousy jobs? What demands will this place on infrastructure? Who pays for that?
Bankers aren't stupid. There's a reason they won't finance the project.
Government should stay out of the development game and focus on keeping its own house in order. They've never been very good at either.
Stuart Orzach 4 weeks, 1 day ago on Yampa Valley Sustainability Council looks to combat grocery bag forgetfulness
Yampa Valley Sustainability Council looks to combat grocery bag forgetfulness
You've got to be kidding! You're going to reduce waste by producing and distributing more waste?
Is this really the best way for a non-profit, that receives public funding, to utilize its limited assets (i.e. money, and the time and energy of its employees and volunteers)?
If I go to the supermarket and forget my reusable bags, I load my groceries back into my cart, wheel it out to my car or bike, and transfer the groceries directly into my vehicle. You don't need a bag.
But, as a reminder to bring my bags, I often hang them right on my doorknob.
Stuart Orzach 5 months, 3 weeks ago on Wolf Mountain builds access to new oil well before permit OK'd
Wolf Mountain builds access to new oil well before permit OK'd
This is the second SUP application on which Quicksilver displayed negligence by failing to meet its contractual obligations. The first time, the County bent over backwards by granting an exemption from a wildlife condition. The County also scheduled a public hearing on the SUP application but did not provide proper legal public notice. The error was obvious to citizens who notified the County on the day of the scheduled hearing. The hearing was subsequently postponed.
Stuart Orzach 6 months ago on Michelle Hale: Time for state to act
Michelle Hale: Time for state to act
Stuart Orzach 6 months, 1 week ago on Harry Thompson: On the right track
Harry Thompson: On the right track
Stuart Orzach 6 months, 1 week ago on StuartOrzach
StuartOrzach
Stuart Orzach 6 months, 3 weeks ago on Rob Douglas: Are we not better than this?
Rob Douglas: Are we not better than this?
Rob,
Stuart