Cycling good, e-bikes bad. And should Trudeau stay or go?

Will someone please tell me why bicycles and similar vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries haven't been banned from the subway. The batteries have an inclination to fail and burst into flames. I, on the other hand, have an inclination to avoid dying when one of them does.

Joey Slinger, Toronto

Biking is the better way for many of us, even in winter. However, despite upgrades to make the city bike friendlier, it can remain far too dangerous. There are bad road conditions, lanes in need of maintenance and those who avoided leaf pickup have left lanes with slippery leaves. The city has known for decades where issues are within their network and there has not had enough effort to improve connectivity in some critical points. Meanwhile, the faster and heavier e-bikes are going too fast for much comfort. We need to be more European in our regulation, along with enforcement. Biking is still the better way, at least in the old core.

Hamish Wilson, Toronto

Should Trudeau stay or go?

Will Justin Trudeau stay or call it quits? We listened to his year-end interviews, and this is what they revealed, Dec. 30

First, the decision about whether or not Justin Trudeau is the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada going into the next election should be made by the members of the party, not by Trudeau. Second, in his year-end interviews, Trudeau reiterated his reason for staying on. Was it to strengthen Canada's military? Was it to get Canada's fiscal health in order? Was it to attract more foreign investment to improve our productivity and standard of living? No, it was because he loves a fight. What is right for him overrides what is best for the country and for the well-being of Canadians.

Rick Hird, Whitby

Columnist Susan Delacourt's quote about Brian Mulroney stepping down because all he could offer was "more of the same" ought to concentrate our minds wonderfully about federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who will offer us a reprise of the Harper government. When it comes to making progress on the pressing issues of our day, Harper was a colossal waste of time, and right now, we don't really have much time to waste.

Ron Charach, Toronto

Act on the accessibility crisis

Ontario has an accessibility crisis. It's time Queen's Park acted with urgency: Editorial, Jan. 3

The Star’s editorial stating that Ontario is in an accessibility crisis is right on! As a disabled person, I have pointed out to current and previous Ontario governments that more needs to be urgently done to help the private sector become totally accessible by the deadline of Jan. 1, 2025, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). For many private businesses, funding is the limiting factor in complying with AODA legislation. Thus, I provided MPP Raymond Cho, the minister for seniors and accessibility, with a suggested funding model to help the private sector become accessible by the deadline and still no uptake. Ontario still has many restaurant washrooms not meeting current accessibility standards. A washroom in the basement helps no one confined to a wheelchair! Many years have been lost for assessments and design/construction activities to meet the AODA deadline. Being a retired civil engineer disabled from stroke gives me a unique perspective on this subject!

Jim McEwen, Bowmanville

Offer mentally ill better support, not MAID

Intensive, compassionate caring — not MAID — is most effective way to address mental illness, Dec. 30

Star contributor Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov has given a wonderfully written opinion on the pitfalls of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) and how it may affect people with a mental illness. There are many other things that can be done to support people with mental illness without considering death. Review, recognize and fix the many real discriminatory problems that exist for the mentally ill while they live. We must work to improve access and support to mental health care, housing, ODSP payments, medical training for regular nurses, doctors and all involved in the medical field, training for law enforcement and those in the judicial system. No one with serious mental illness should ever end up incarcerated. There should be a co-ordinated approach to supporting people with mental illness, including their families, medical and psychiatric support. Those directly involved in the mental health field would most probably add quite a few more things to this list. If the government's Special Joint Committee deals with these issues, then maybe the conversation can continue.

Matthew Marosszeky, Aurora

An ask and a thank you

Shoppers Drug Mart offers 20 per cent off to seniors age 65 and older (who also have a PC Optimum card) on Thursdays. It's usually quite busy and to my dismay at my location, there is only one clerk on duty at the checkout. If you use the self-checkout, you need a staff person to get the 20 per cent discount. I have seen the line stretching across the store before another checkout opens. Many older customers also like the personal interaction with the cashier. Shoppers needs to correct this insult. Wake up, management! Retail is about customer service.

Grant MacKinnon, Toronto

It was my birthday on Dec. 31. I rushed to the supermarket early in the morning. Unexpectedly, when I was pushing the trolley home, still a few kilometres away, suddenly the wheels of the trolley fell off, leaving only a wheel. I took out half of the things in the trolley and carried it on my left shoulder and carried the trolley on my right shoulder. I held them with both hands and moved forward. "Persistence, be energetic," I silently said in my heart. When I was still a few hundred metres away from home, my shoulders felt numb and I couldn't walk anymore. My dream came true when a gentleman came towards me and insisted on helping. I almost burst into tears, but I forgot to say thank you! There are so many nice people in Toronto!

Wendy Zhang, Markham