Re "Bike fee? What about bike lanes?" (Monitor letter, Aug. 14):

I firmly believe that a person on a bicycle would be safer on Interstate 93 than on Route 129. Route 129 is a windy, hilly, blind-corner strewn country road with the white line painted an inch away from the gravel shoulder. Add two or more cyclists who insist on riding beside each other, and you have a very dangerous situation.

One has to wonder why we have paved roads to begin with. Was it for bicycles? No, it was for automobiles. Paved roads, street signs, painted lines, street lights - certainly not built for or paid for by bicycles.

When I first started driving, someone told me there is the law, and then there are the rules of the road. Rule No. 1 was "Always yield to the largest vehicle." If a dump truck runs a red light, that's against the law, but you can believe I'm going to get out of his way.

I'm happy you park your car and ride your bike for seven months of the year, but I'm sure the state isn't. You don't pay a fuel tax for the use of the roads. Maybe for that seven months you can pay a fuel surcharge on the food you eat.

KEN ST. CYR

Loudon