To the editor:

I was heartened and, I have to say, somewhat shocked to read that the motorist who killed local cyclist and Washburn University professor Glenda Taylor in Crawford County has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in her death. This is in marked contrast to the shrug Cal Melick’s death last year under similar circumstances elicited from Douglas County authorities, a response more typical of what we’re accustomed to.

When I told a non-cyclist friend of Cal’s death, he asked me what would be the consequences for the driver. I laughed and told him it was a cyclist, he could have backed up and run over him again and they wouldn’t have done anything.

Cyclists’ lives matter too. Thank you, Crawford County. Shame on you, Douglas County. Cal Melick was a friend of mine and he deserved better.