Letter: Driving, biking, walking must be made more safe

Friday, Oct. 29, 2004 | 5:40 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

October 30 - 31, 2004

As a new resident of Las Vegas who has lived in much larger cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and New York City, I am absolutely appalled by the horrible driving habits of many in this town. They do not seem to have any respect for human life, and apparently they don't understand that vehicles can be dangerous weapons when improperly used.

Whether I walk, bike or drive my auto, I honestly feel that I am putting my life at risk every day. Hardly a day goes by when I don't witness the aftermath of reckless driving and the damaged property in its wake.

Las Vegans deserve better. We live in a wonderful city, not the jungle. It's high time for better enforcement of existing traffic laws and high time for more officers to be hired, so that aggressive drivers can be targeted.

We also need to turn Las Vegas into a pedestrian and biking-friendly city by building and expanding more sidewalks, paving bike lanes, widening shoulders and enacting more stringent and punitive laws.

MICHAEL PRAVICA