I relocated to Bristol three years ago after years coming here to visit my daughter’s family. Whether as a visitor or a new resident, I have always been in awe of how this small, highly populated state has managed to maintain so much public green space.

That space can be accessed in many different ways, but bicycling is ideal for a community the size of Bristol and the surrounding towns, and will help Roger Williams University become a more active participant. The improvements planned will make it easy to bike to all parts of Bristol and Warren by accessing some part of the trail, and for the more ambitious riders all communities between here and Providence.

Listening to the conversations at two of the public bike path workshops, and also two Bristol Town Council meetings, I feel proud to be a part of this community. I am impressed with how respectful people were in sharing and responding to concerns.

While not all have come to the same conclusions, it is obvious that we care about a lot of the same things, with safety topping the list.

I know change can be scary, and it is easy to focus on “worst case” scenarios when viewing something new. Balance those thoughts, please, with some “best case” scenarios. Biking makes informal and unplanned-for conversations happen that can help us know each other better. Is it possible that making the streets more bikeable to all parts of the town might decrease the number of cars on the street and actually free up some of the parking spaces?

I look at the two front-page articles in the March 4 Phoenix and I feel so encouraged that Bristol has a positive future, and I hope the bike path will be part of it.

Keep on sharing and listening. Seek to understand those with differing ideas. Enjoy Bristol and all it has to offer!

Charlotte Griffith
Bristol