No double parking? Fantastic. It is about time to me.

Twice weekly garbage collection? Terrific.

Now we need Reid Street free of cars.

Well done PLP.

I WAS UBP ONCE Sandys Parish No walk in the park March 9, 1999 Dear Sir, As a group of health professionals, we have become increasingly concerned about the danger of walking along Bermuda's main roadways.

While the western end of the Island has benefited from the installation of long stretches of usable sidewalks and/or broad grassy verges, the rest of us, who would like to be pedestrians, are too frightened to walk along the edge of the road.

Anyone who has recently attempted to walk along South Road or Middle Road from Paget eastwards, where there are almost no sidewalks, has been at risk, as drivers show no consideration for pedestrians and frequently disregard the speed limit.

We believe that this is not only a public health issue and a transportation issue, but it is also a quality of life issue, both for local residents and for our invited guests (tourists). Physicians, dietitians, diabetes' educators and many other health care professionals are constantly urging Bermudians to get out and walk regularly, as most of the major causes of death and disability in Bermuda are related to lack of exercise.

Few people are able to comply with this medical advice because of the serious dangers of walking without usable sidewalks. We believe that thousands of Bermudians would be in better health if it was safe and convenient to walk near their homes.

Many of us drive very short distances to perform errands or to drop off our children, when we would really rather have the option of walking in safety.

In addition, to the above aspects of the lack of adequate sidewalks, there is also the issue of genuine accessibility for wheelchairs, strollers and baby prams.

Common sense dictates sidewalks be sufficiently broad and smooth to be easily used, and curb cuts are needed at every corner, not just here and there! Trying to push a baby stroller is nearly impossible.

Lumpy grass walkways or narrow stepping stones, a la Rural Hill, are hazardous and just plain useless for the majority of walkers, not to mention the needless and on-going expense of having to mow and maintain these poorly designed walkways year after year. A well-designed sidewalk is virtually maintenance-free.

We would call upon Bermuda's MP's to give serious thought to the need for safe and accessible sidewalks, at least along North, South and Middle Roads. Yes, this will cost money, but some of that will be recouped by decreased medical expenditures secondary to a greater level of exercise, as well as having tourists enjoy their Bermuda visits in safety, rather than in fear on the edge of the pavement.

Yes, some property owners, including ourselves will be upset to lose their walls, hedges or trees. However, the Planning Department has on file numerous stretches of roadside areas where owners gave their permission decades ago for sidewalks, and none of those sidewalks have been built yet.

While it will be sad to lose some lovely old stone walls and trees, it would be sadder still to have pedestrians continually put at risk, because they chose to walk rather than to drive. In many areas the sidewalks could be placed to deliberately narrow the roadway, causing all of us to drive more slowly! Our traffic problems are unlikely to go away any time soon, but the construction of safe, broad, accessible sidewalks on major roads would help to reduce the stress levels and the number of dangerous roadside incidents in the lives of thousands of people locally. We call upon our MPs and the administrators at the Ministry of Works & Engineering to act upon this important issue.

The Members of: The Bermuda Dietitians Association The Bermuda Diabetes Association The Bermuda Occupational Therapy Assoc.

The Bermuda Physical Therapy Association The Road Safety Committee of the Bermuda Medical Society The good old days March 8, 1999 Dear Sir, I had the great pleasure of being stationed at Kindley in 1960 and 1961 and have returned numerous times to enjoy Bermuda as it evolved over the years.

At least twice a week I read the various articles from The Royal Gazette on the Internet. Today having read the two articles by Patrick Burgess on "Reviving Spring Break'', I could not help but say "Why has it taken so long?'' During the recent visits to Bermuda I found my conversations with taxi drivers, shop owners and others always got back to talking about Bermuda tourism as we knew it. Most tourists came by plane, major hotels were fully booked, the Queen of Bermuda made it's weekly trip from New York, local entertainment (Hubert Smith, Talbot Brothers, Talbot Nephews, etc.), college weeks and a host of other memorable things to do enjoyed by tourists and locals.

When you talk to people who have taken the various ships to Bermuda they talk more about their ship experiences then they do about Bermuda. Most of them did not see enough of Bermuda to form fond memories that will get them to return to Bermuda, they only talk about their next cruise to wherever.

In the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s you returned to Bermuda because you fell in love with Bermuda and maybe fell in love with someone in Bermuda too. I returned for both reasons.

In 1960 and 1961 College Weeks were controlled but everyone had a memorable time with little or no problems. Back then the hotel entertainment closed at 10 p.m. and the local entertainment came to the beach. We all had a memorable time, made friends we still have, married someone we met and most of all we still love Bermuda.

In the Spring of 1962, either Look or Life magazine had a multi-page article on Bermuda titled "Where the Girls Are'' which was the opposite of Fort Lauderdale's "Where the Boys Are''. One of the main features of the article was "Why and How'' Bermuda attracted a group of college students that came to Bermuda for their school break.

The article also quoted parents' reasons for preferring their sons and daughters went to Bermuda. Even though the article may be outdated it would still contain many valid points for Bermuda tourism. Bermuda can still attract the college student looking for a memorable spring break without the hype of a Fort Lauderdale.

Times may have changed but what we loved about Bermuda years ago is still there -- it just needs a little help to bring it back. Bermuda can learn how to keep college weeks civil by talking to the locals who remember how it was controlled before.

There are a number of us who remember Bermuda College Weeks, return to Bermuda regularly and are the ones who fly in and stay at the hotels. It is the return visitor that will keep Bermuda tourism alive and well. Provide the college student with a fond memorable spring break and she/he will return for many years. It is time Bermuda Tourism and the hotels worked together to attract those who will return again and again.

Good luck to Bermuda Tourism and I hope they succeed in reviving college weeks to the class it was in the past -- tourists and locals will all benefit from it.

TOM ZIMMERMAN Georgetown, Ontario An apology is in order March 14, 1999 Dear Sir, Maybe I have already attained my maximum level of intelligence, because I failed to see the humour in Mr. Woolcock's depiction of a scruffy, spoilt black boy in a thwarted effort to blow up his school.

Sir, this is an insult not only to blacks but to all locals who work very hard at accentuating positive behaviour in our young ones.

I do not recall any reference being made to the race of the students allegedly involved in the Harrington Sound case. Why then did Mr. Woolcock choose to benefit at the expense of one race? We all demand that you fix it. It is never too late to do the right thing. How about an apology in the form of one of your masterpieces? Oh, and please do not repeat this insult in your next edition of Woppened.

JOSHUA RICHARDSON Pembroke Dunkley's ever vigilant March 5, 1999 Dear Sir, There's a smell of formaldehyde starting to permeate Bermuda. The new government is attempting to bottle and shelve the authorities that are beyond acute PLP control.

The Regiment and the Governor are important, independent participants in the intricate mechanics that keep our island healthy. They act as part of the vertebrae that make up the backbone of Bermuda.

The Hon. Michael Dunkley should be congratulated in his quest to uncover the basis to such blatant covert injustices.

BEAT THE RETREAT