Regarding City Councilmember Mike Grady’s recent bicycle rage incident, I faced the brunt of a similar outpouring of rage with the same Councilmember. At a recent Puget Sound Prosperity Partnership luncheon (where Alan Mulally was the speaker), he approached our table. I commented that it was concerning that he had voted for the expensive and inefficient Island Crest “road diet,” which many Islanders opposed. We went back and forth — he about saving the planet and “global warming,” the need to get out of our cars and ride bicycles, etc. I responded that much climate change data is now in question, the topic is more political than scientific, and that his own employer, NOAA, has had to revise some data.

During this exchange, he grew angrier and angrier, especially when I stated that we had lived in China, where people couldn’t wait to get off of their bicycles and join the 21st century with the freedom and efficiency of an automobile! Besides, at my age and because of the inclement weather, I feel safer in my SUV and will ride a bicycle only for recreation.

In this very public forum with many witnesses, his face got progressively redder, his gestures more wild and he left by shouting, and I directly quote his insulting tirade heard by many people at and around our table: “I can’t believe that anyone as stupid as you lives on Mercer Island.” This was a really unsettling and embarrassing interaction with an elected official whose job is to represent, not attack, Mercer Island residents, whatever our respective views are.

Sarah Rindlaub