:P
Letters | Clearing trails a green move
Appeared on page C7
It looks like the winter of 2008 is going to be a record for snowfall.
It's been nearly a week since the last snowflake hit the ground but some sidewalks are still covered with a huge amount of the white stuff.
As many readers know, I am a very strong supporter of this city. As a former cyclist who rode a 10-speed bicycle across Canada and the U.S., I know a beautiful sight when I see one and Fredericton's trails rank way up there.
Unfortunately, city hall doesn't seem to care whether the trails are accessible during the winter.
Almost every night since last February, I have walked around the two bridges. Someone who noticed asked me, "Doesn't it get boring?" I have to say "No!" because I never see the same thing twice. The changes of the seasons make my walk much more interesting.
Even if it gets dark at 5 p.m., the snow in the trees and the reflection of the moon in the sky are beautiful sights. I also love to watch the silhouette of Christ Church Cathedral against the evening skies.
But I am running into a problem. The trails are not plowed, and the walking bridge is totally ignored during the winter.
Just because it's cold doesn't mean Frederictonians don't want to get some outdoor exercise. I see hundreds of footprints in the snow. This tells me many people are out there walking. In fact, people are plowing a path with their feet, but the end result is just not good enough. It's uneven, narrow and dangerous.
Elderly people or people with disabilities would risk their lives walking on the trails today.
You have to be very determined to walk the trails in these conditions; many do because they love the outdoors. I understand that city streets and sidewalks must come first, but why isn't the trail plowed, at minimum, the length of the entry to the walking trail bridge on the south side by the Green and to the juncture at Union Street on the north side?
After a snow fall, the trail from Main Street to the Westmorland Bridge and across to the south side is plowed. Why is the walking trail bridge ignored?
City hall wants Fredericton to be known as the Green City, but the piles of snow blocking the walking trails on the north side aren't making it easy for those of us who want to make recreational use of the trails, get some exercise and use our feet instead of cars.
Charles LeBlanc
Fredericton
1 comment:
Charles,
Don`t you know it makes more sense for the Irvings to have everyone drive themselves around all winter?
In New Brunswick, if it ain`t good for Irving, it ain`t got priority. If it is good for Irving, don`t even think about stopping it. Free property tax to run a damn oil refinery - Jesus!
I don`t know what they get out of leaving that heap of a train station to rot in our fair city. Some kind of sick pleasure at seeing history wipe away our traditions and hiding their crimes.
Post a Comment