The Bee publishes letters from readers across the Gallatin Valley. Letters are edited for length, never for truth, because we wouldn’t know where to start.
The aggressive pace of North 19th
I am writing to express my concern regarding the new speed limit signs on North 19th. It seems the city expects us to travel at forty-five miles per hour, which is frankly quite taxing on the nerves. When I moved here in 2012, one could drive from the interstate to the mountains without seeing another soul, let alone a digital sign telling me I am going too slow. I find that if I maintain a consistent fifteen miles per hour, I have a much better chance of spotting the deer that frequently stand in the turning lane. We must slow down to ensure we don’t accidentally arrive somewhere too quickly.
— Gary Halloway, Bozeman
Too many textures at the Co-op
I visited the community market downtown last Tuesday looking for a simple bag of oats, but I was overwhelmed by the variety of artisanal, sprouted, and ancient-grain options. Why must breakfast be so complicated? Back in the day, oats were just oats, and they didn’t require a background check to purchase. I stood in the aisle for twenty minutes trying to decide if my granola needed to be “activated” or merely toasted. I eventually left with a jar of local honey and a sense of confusion. I just want a bowl of oatmeal that doesn’t require a master’s degree to prepare.
— Brenda Miller-Smith, Belgrade
The lack of adequate mud room space
My wife and I recently moved into our third condo in the Meadow Village, and we have realized a critical design flaw: the mudroom is simply too small for our gear. We currently have five pairs of powder skis, three mountain bikes, and our collection of seasonal parkas, but there is barely enough room for a single boot tray. It feels like the developers assumed people only participate in one hobby at a time. If we are expected to live the mountain lifestyle, we really need more square footage for our specialized equipment. It is getting very difficult to reach the refrigerator.
— Dave “Slider” Thompson, Big Sky