I used to live on Whidbey and am now a frequent visitor. What a paradise Whidbey is, a quiet respite from the Seattle hubbub. But there is a problem. More and more people are firing up motors for work, for leaves and for recreation. ATV and dirt bike users need to know that while they are having fun, everyone within a mile (or more) is losing the peace and quiet they emptied their life savings to acquire. They can no longer hear the birds or the wind playing high in the trees.

Quiet isn’t nothing. It is something! Quiet is a powerful medicine for those who put in long days at work. For those who endure hours of congested highways, the last thing they want to hear is the “rev rev” of a couple of dirt bikes run by a couple of kids having fun for a couple of hours. This letter is intended to inform or educate motor users. I assume that if the “user” is informed then natural kindness would kick in and the motor use would be remarkably reduced or moved to a more appropriate location. But I would also assume that if the “user” clearly knows the adverse ramifications of their activity, and they continue regardless, then they are simply being mean! With this letter I ask for a good sense of neighborliness and kindness. Kindness is also a powerful medicine.

James Baken
Montana