We were among several hundred happy riders and spectators who celebrated the opening of your exciting visionary bike park and trails on Saturday.

Our admiration goes to the approachable, proud councillors and supporters who coordinated this project and pieced together the various federal, state and local grants.

It was joyful to see skillful polite teenagers assisting the smallest tots, parents and grandparents having a go or revelling in the family atmosphere.

We all enjoyed the fire brigade sausages too.

Goliath bike park has put the topiary town of Railton on the map with a capital M.

If you are looking for a free family day of fun, take a barbecue, load up the bikes and get some exercise.

You will find the park adjacent to the adventure playground, heaven for non-riding children.

The riding trails go for 100 kilometres.

What a great little Tasmanian town.

TWO oil tankers were set alight in the Gulf of Oman recently, and because of it there is an immediate call of petrol prices rising instantly.

This, I say, is only a smokescreen; an excuse for oil companies to raise the bowser price even more.

How often do we see when the barrel price of oil rises, the pump price hike is immediate, yet when the barrel price goes down the oil companies drag their feet in lowering prices, if at all?

What rip-off merchants they are; in the same category as the banks.

MARY T Bates (The Examiner, June 10) I am intrigued that you find no contradiction supporting the majority view regarding the federal election, but not so for the same-sex marriage vote.

You make a number of sweeping generalisations, unburdened by the need to provide specific examples to support your assertions.

I am mystified as to how the institution of same-sex marriage has negatively impacted on your religious freedom.

Despite all the dire predictions, the sky has not fallen in.

The misunderstanding in all of this is that, while religious folk are perfectly free to express their view, it does not free them from criticism if such views are no longer acceptable generally, or to minority groups vilified by such views.

Might I point out that when you state that "it does appear that a deep chasm has been permitted to develop between the rights of minority groups and religious groups" when it comes to your views about human sexuality, you are in a minority group.

Perhaps this might make you consider your position more carefully.

I TOTALLY agree with the comments made by Val Clarke (The Examiner, June 20) regarding the lack of turning arrow lights on the intersection of Howick Street and Wellington Street when wishing to turn right into Wellington Street from Howick Street.

The turning lane is in place, but there is no green turning arrow on the lights allowing traffic to do so safely and within the time frame of when these lights turn green.

This intersection is a high volume density, with traffic coming from West Launceston, off the Southern Outlet and from McDonald's.

Plus there is a high volume of traffic coming down Howick Street wanting to turn right into Wellington Street.

Last year I telephoned the Launceston City Council regarding this issue and the person I spoke to said that this intersection was not being considered to have a turning arrow light installed.

My reply to this was, with high volume of traffic at most times of day, there is no point in having a turning lane if one cannot turn and sometimes have to wait for a couple of light changes before you are able to turn right.

This problem needs to be sorted, or will they wait until someone has a serious accident?

The issue also came up when new turning lanes were put in place on Hobart Road, turning into Blaydon Street and then again turning off Hobart Road into Kyema or any of the other businesses.

I telephoned the council again and this was their answer: that is another department.

Eventually, after several months, the turning arrows were finally placed into the light system.

Please, and I know I speak on behalf of quite a few concerned drivers, put the turning arrow lights on the Howick and Wellington Street intersection.

This will allow vehicles coming down Howick Street to safely turn right into Wellington Street.

I also think that all traffic lights should have turning arrows, allowing traffic to turn without having to wait for maybe two or more light changes before you can do so.

There are several of these intersections, even in the CBD.

This would also help alleviate traffic congestion, and driver frustration.