This is in response to the article and editorial in the Sun Journal Feb. 20 regarding the challenges of being a pedestrian in the winter in Lewiston-Auburn. I had time to think about both pieces as I walked across the Veterans Bridge from my home in Auburn to my work at Bates College.
The concerns expressed about safety are very appropriate. On the bridge, I crossed a set of tire tracks that veered off the road and bounced off the guardrail. A piece of bumper remained in the snow.
The bike that I usually use is in the shop getting three months of sand and salt removed, but in my daily ride, I often see other footprints in the sand and snow. I also note the occasional set of wayward car tracks. Everyone who uses that bridge should realize that some day those two sets of paths might meet.
Pedestrians need a better Veterans Bridge. As with Center Street, the paramount issue is safety, but it is also of quality of life. As both cities continue to revive, we have to make sure that growth does not mean congestion, that the car is a choice and not a necessity.
What’s more, I can’t help thinking every day that the Veterans Bridge crosses a beautiful stretch of the Androscoggin River. How many more people would appreciate the view if a pedestrian and bike path allowed people to enjoy it at 6 or 16 mph instead of 60?
Joseph Hall, Auburn
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