Sounding Off:

There used to be four bike shops in Balboa that rented the surreys, and we fought to rid the town of them then.

We were so happy when they left us with only one shop on the oceanfront boardwalk with surrey rentals. Families can rent bikes from the large supply of all family members’ sizes, including tandem bikes. There is no need for the surreys.

The multi-use on the boardwalk has become out of control with bikes, Segways, surreys, skateboarders, runners, families with strollers and walkers. Except for the walkers, no one stops at the stop signs at the street intersections; you are expected to slam on your brakes and dodge them.

It is not always the surrey renters fault that we do not like them. It is the owner of the shop who does not instruct them to “not ride on the boardwalks, stop at all stop signs, stay out of the heavy traffic because they can’t keep up.”

So where do they belong? Nowhere.

When you tell surrey riders they can get a ticket for riding on the sidewalk, they are surprised and not happy. They were not told this fact.

Also, shop owners do not tell surrey riders that they are prohibited on the Balboa Island boardwalk and sidewalks and how narrow their streets are. So their ferry ride is in vain.

We see many parents who are legal age rent the surreys, and just blocks away let their children take over. They have no helmets and no respect for the rules since they are too young. They ride wildly up and down the sidewalks, tip them over going off curbs, etc. and play dodge the pedestrians.

No one feels safe, not just old people. Kids don’t hear them coming; they are wide, and if there are other people sharing the sidewalk you don’t know which way to go.

The same goes for the very heavy Segways when they are touring on crowded sidewalks with 10 to 15 people in a tour. They do not stop for anything, and if they did they would pile into one another.

Our police have better things to do than chase surreys, bikes, Segways and skaters. The boardwalk was made for walking years ago. Bikers then joined in harmony but in a courteous manner, as opposed to today’s, who speed, do not stop at intersections and have no respect for the walkers.

We have volunteer bicycle and foot patrols in Balboa, maybe not as often as we like but they do what they can with the surrey riders, skateboarders and bike riders, making them aware about the rules.

We need to save our town and keep it safe without the surreys.

Be gone.

HOWARD GABBIE lives in Newport Beach.