Letters to the editor April 30

Law aren’t enforced

Be thankful you do not live anywhere near Kalispell’s Main Street, especially on Friday evenings.  

You have been spared the parade of reckless drivers and showboaters, who run laps up and down Main Street for hours, revving engines with no mufflers or modified mufflers (to make them even louder). 

You don’t have to be concerned for the safety of kids, pets, family or friends that might be threatened by the drivers who veer off the Main Street drag strip and head through the adjoining neighborhoods at squealing their tires at speeds that are at times double the speed limit. 

You have been spared attending the City Council meetings where, despite the number of residents in attendance, almost all strongly against the Friday event, you are told at the outset by Council members like Jed Fisher and Sid Daoud, “I will not violate the rights of our citizens [the cruisers]”  and “I will not be any part of taking this away from our people [the cruisers].”  

You will have heard from these same Council members that speed limits are on the books already and therefore what ain’t broke don’t need fixing.  

You have not had to ask: If the laws exist, why are there so few examples of those laws being enforced? And despite another Council member hoping there would be “some sort of self-policing,” you have been spared the eye rolling that follows that kind of ludicrous statement.  

Be thankful that you have not lost your enthusiasm for city police where the business card you’ve been handed includes the motto “striving to exceed expectations.”  

The Police Department is situated where the officers cannot help but hear and see these juveniles.  They seem to be afraid to do their job.  

— Joe Biby, Kalispell

Hydro highway

I just wanted to extend my sincere appreciation for the truly unforgettable driving experience currently offered along U.S. 93 between Somers and Kalispell. It’s not every day that commuters are treated to a road surface that so effectively blends the thrill of off-roading with the unpredictability of a water park.

Over the past four months, I’ve heard from friends, customers and fellow residents about the — let’s call them “features” — of this stretch of highway. Naturally, I had to experience it for myself. After a recent trip from Lakeside to Billings and back — covering miles of perfectly reasonable roadway — I was relieved to return home to the one section that really stands out. Consistency is overrated, after all.

The missing asphalt in the driving lanes, forming charming 1-2 inch depressions, adds a welcome element of surprise. And the repaired sections sitting slightly higher than the surrounding pavement? Brilliant. They create a rhythmic rumble-strip effect that keeps drivers alert — or at least wondering if their suspension will survive the commute.

The experience only improves in the rain, when standing water transforms the highway into a hydroplaning simulator. At 50-60 mph, the sensation of briefly losing contact with the road really adds excitement to an otherwise mundane drive. The dramatic spray from passing vehicles, generously applied to windshields, ensures maximum visibility challenges and keeps everyone on their toes. It’s particularly effective at encouraging sudden, reactive steering — an excellent test of driver reflexes.

With approximately 15,000 people traveling this section daily — and summer traffic just around the corner — it’s impressive how well this stretch has been preserved in its current state. One can only assume it’s part of a long-term experiment.

All sarcasm aside, this situation is genuinely concerning. It’s not just uncomfortable — it’s becoming unsafe. I would greatly appreciate any information on when this section is scheduled for proper repair.

— Marc Liechti, Lakeside