THEIR VIEWS

Providing access to cyclists,

pedestrians is important

Installing a parking lot at the foot of the new Cooper River Bridge is further recognition by the city of Charleston of the importance of providing access to bicyclists and pedestrians who use the bridge in large numbers.

Charleston also plans a bikeway from the bridge to the lower peninsula. Mount Pleasant should take note.

The parking lot at Cooper and East Bay streets will serve pedestrians and cyclists who are flocking to the span in surprising numbers since its opening. Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. says that the popularity of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge with pedestrians and cyclists shows the need to provide greater access across the Ashley River bridges, as well. Providing safe connections across those bridges and others in the metropolitan area should be first on the list of bikeway projects undertaken with revenue from the half-cent sales tax. ...

The CTC, originally created to advise on the expenditure of state road funds allocated to the county, should support the mayor’s proposed policy. So should the county’s Transportation Advisory Board.

As Mr. Riley observed in his letter, the passage of the half-cent sales tax puts Charleston County ‘‘in a position to set the stage and provide adequate facilities for all modes of transportation.’’ County Council shouldn’t let the opportunity pass. The (Charleston) Post and Courier

Duke customers deserve

answers after ice storm

For the second time in three years, the Upstate has been slammed by a devastating ice storm that sent tree limbs tearing through power lines and left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity. Duke Power, the primary provider in this area, has come under fire once again for a response that seemed sluggish — especially to those who endured five or six nights without power.

Duke’s management should be held accountable for the public utility’s performance. That accountability should come from sharp questioning by this state’s Public Service Commission, the state Legislature and local governments, particularly the city of Greenville. ...

Duke is a public utility and as a monopoly, its overall performance isn’t off-limits to public scrutiny. Duke customers don’t have a choice of switching to another electric utility that seems to get power restored much more quickly after ice storms.

So those Duke customers have a right to ask tough questions and expect their elected representatives to ask even tougher ones. ...

Duke’s initial response to the recent storm certainly seemed inadequate. Duke can’t control the weather, but it should be accountable for how it deals with major power outages.

The Greenville News