Deadly blind spot
Dear editor:
This is about the northern point of the King Expressway where you can go straight, which will take you westbound to Hot Springs, or you can go right, which is the eastbound exit ramp. When you take the eastbound exit ramp, you will see some oncoming traffic but you will miss some traffic from the blind spot created by trees and brush. It was a very busy week with motorcycles everywhere.
I am coming onto the eastbound ramp and I do notice three motorcycles that are eastbound in the left lane. I am proceeding with the exit ramp and I do merge with the eastbound right lane, which is clear. I am checking my mirror and I confirmed that I have three motorcycles in the left lane with room to get over. I turn my blinker on and accelerate as I cross over into the left lane. Crap, a white tri-bike pulls back so I don't hit it. These bikers are upset. I am upset. The blind spot on the exit ramp prevented me from seeing the whole traffic picture. Thank God there wasn't a crash fatality. A freak thing, but I don't really know.
If you think that blind spot is bad, then you should check out the blind spot on the westbound traffic where northbound traffic merges with the westbound traffic. Guess what? You can't see any car getting off that exit ramp from trees and brush. How do I file a complaint with ArDOT? I think I have cause to sue ArDOT because of their negligence by creating these blind spots with trees and brush. I say sue, because that's how you get a government entity to fix something. Thank God there was no accident. I guess I will have to be extremely cautious next time near this exit ramp and deadly blind spot. I hope someone fixes this mess or there is a guarantee of potentially fatal accidents that can happen as a result of these blind spots created by ArDOT. I hope and pray that they will fix this.
Michael P. Lucas
Hot Springs
Clear path to vote reform
Dear editor:
In November 2020, millions of voters like me went to the polls and cast a ballot for Joe Biden.
Now, with a relentless GOP attack on our voting rights underway, I'm asking President Biden to return the favor. It's time for Biden to go further than talking about supporting voting rights legislation. We need him to come out and fully support ending the filibuster so the Senate can finally pass voting rights legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
With the filibuster intact, these bills stand little chance of passing. We need the president to use his power of office to pressure the Senate to end the filibuster and clear a path for voting rights reform.
We can't out-organize voter suppression. History will remember how President Biden handles these attacks on our right to vote. I'm urging him to do the right thing.
Judi Druce
Hot Springs Village
BikeFest 'thanks'
Dear editor:
This letter is to thank a business that supported the recent successful BikeFest this past weekend. The Diamond Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America presented an antique motorcycle show on Saturday. Selected Funeral and Life Insurance Company allowed us to use their parking lot, which was next to our assigned display area, to unload and load our motorcycles and park our trucks and trailers. This was so helpful to the logistics needed to put on our show. Cooperative businesses like SFLIC make the activities in the Spa City go so great each year. Thanks, SFLIC!
Michael Thomson
President, Diamond Chapter