I am sorry to see that some citizens view the YourLetters section as their opportunity to show their superiority by belittling others ["Interview was a waste of space," July 11].

We think that, somehow, we are entitled to make other people our sport by denigrating their aspirations, by belittling their efforts, by calling them names.

A young person such as Chelsea Ingram expresses dreams and goals - and is laughed at for it.

Of what constructive benefit were these disdainful and uncivil letters? You might not like what your neighbor has to say, but that is when you should just wish her well and turn the page.

Simple kindness and consideration of our neighbor dictates that we keep our meaner thoughts to ourselves, and a little personal humility reminds us that none of us is perfect. No one will like everything that he or she reads in a newspaper.

I am glad The Cary News attempts to cover the variety of events and people who make up this neighborhood.

The writing of, and printing of, insulting letters to the editor never helps anyone - the writer is not improved for having vented.

The target of the comments most certainly is not cheered up by the assault.

And the typical reader is not uplifted by reading someone's rant. I hope that Ms. Ingram was able to rely on the self-confidence she spoke of to ignore the unkind letters to the editor.

Joanne Hutson, Cary

I've watched with great interest the arguments for and against addressing the pedestrian safety concerns at the new Cary bridge on Kildaire Farm Road ["Cary bridge may get barrier," July 11].

Yes, there are many unsafe sidewalks in Cary.

Let's face it - the sidewalk network in Cary is patchy at best and compounded by a lack of road shoulders too.

But this bridge and sidewalk in question are brand new.

We're not talking about something that was built before the town grew or before modern pedestrian safety standards were established.

If you've walked this new stretch a few times, during heavy Kildaire Farm Road traffic, you'd understand the concern.

It's hair-raising.

Not only is traffic on this side of the road moving consistently well above the speed limit, but it's also a long downhill stretch - with no signal light or shoulder - that bends at exactly the point where the unprotected bridge section starts and the sidewalk narrows.

It couldn't be a worse combination of factors.

Interestingly though, the other side of the road - the uphill side - has a nice big safety barrier and a sidewalk.

The sidewalk on that side is at least twice as wide as the other one, even though pedestrians are less at risk of a runaway car there because of the angle of the road, speed, and the uphill slope.

Those who haven't walked this area may now say, "Well, just cross to the safer side then."

The problem with that is that you've got a near continuous flow of 50 mph traffic barreling up and down Kildaire Farm Road at peak times - and no safe way to cross that street.

No crosswalk, no signal, no stop sign.

So for a brand-new bridge and road project that cost a lot of money and took a couple of years to finish, it is a disgrace.

It needs to be addressed before someone loses their life over it.

Is it the only bad pedestrian circumstance in Cary? No.

But we need start addressing them all.

This is a good place to start.

Sandy Masinter, Cary