My husband and I have lived in River Valley Village for 14 years, right by the train tracks. Being visually impaired and not able to drive, we have walked across the tracks to go to stores, doctor appointments, etc.

Recently, my husband was stopped by a policeman saying the tracks are private property and no one is to cross, threatening fines.

Why is there no sign, and why wasn’t it a problem before? Isn’t it illegal to harass people if there’s no sign? Why is it even a problem?

The engineers cross there for lunch or other errands, yet the track will crack because we cross?

We don’t have the option of owning a car, and others who can’t afford a car have to walk around the complex, making going to the store close to an hour’s errand instead of five or 10 minutes.

It is easy telling us we have to walk around and down Main Street when they don’t have to do it.

This is another public injustice of exploiting the poor to get money we can’t afford. And what about during winter in freezing temperatures and sidewalks buried in snow — being forced to walk around in unsafe conditions when by crossing the tracks we wouldn’t have to be outside as long?

I can understand not wanting the punks walking along the tracks, but crossing to go to the store or appointments hardly classifies as “punk” activity. Is crossing the tracks somehow a threat?

Susan Gallant, Lewiston