Letter: Yes, please, to a bike path in our front yard

Posted 3/25/21

I am writing in support of the proposed Bristol Bicycle Connector . It will provide a safe, attractive multi-use path for walkers, runners and casual bikers who live south of the current East Bay …

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Letter: Yes, please, to a bike path in our front yard

Posted

I am writing in support of the proposed Bristol Bicycle Connector. It will provide a safe, attractive multi-use path for walkers, runners and casual bikers who live south of the current East Bay Bike Path terminus, as well as for visitors who would like access to the entirety of our beautiful town.

I am appreciative of how responsive the planning team has been to community concerns in regard to the downtown streets, and how they continue to listen to residents’ concerns for safety and aesthetics.

Our Hope Street residence is located along the proposed route of the paved multi-use path, albeit on the opposite side. I acknowledge that my neighbors will have to exercise caution when exiting their driveways, as they do anyway entering a busy state road. An aware driver is the gold standard of defensive driving; exercising caution hardly seems a hindrance to such a significant enhancement to our community.

Having listened to and read the objections of those opposed to the bike path, it is apparent that the majority (if not all) of the opponents live along the multi-use path. While I am sympathetic to their concerns, they are expressions of the classic NIMBY (not in my back yard) mentality. I offer the opposite philosophy — YPIOFY (yes, please, in our front yard).

Nancy Kellner
Bristol

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