Jim Weigang: Don’t trade our sidewalk for a bike trail

Regarding Mill River Greenway plans in Haydenville [“Residents resist Greenway trail plan,” Gazette, April 26], the proposed bike path would replace the existing sidewalk in our neighborhood and pass mere feet in front of homes on the upper end of the street. It would run directly in front of 16 driveways, many of which have sight-line obstructions preventing drivers from seeing oncoming bicycles in one or both directions.

Our neighborhood sidewalk is well used, and older residents, people walking their dogs, and children playing in front of their homes would have to contend with bicyclists on a path that’s narrower than normal bike trails. Our street has been used by bicyclists without incident for decades, and the neighborhood’s bicycle boulevard proposal, which is what is recommended by MassDOT and national transportation agencies for a street like ours, would make the street even safer for cyclists.

Young children and other people concerned about the safety of riding in the street are welcome to ride on our sidewalk. We prefer accommodating these relatively few cyclists on the sidewalk rather than having nearly everyone who rides through between the rail trail and future Route 9 bike path zip by our homes on what used to be our pedestrian sidewalk.

We are not opposed to change or progress, but we want to see positive change rather than change that creates new and ongoing problems for pedestrians and cyclists alike.

Jim Weigang

Haydenville