Two recent letters about the Mill River Greenway bike path being planned for South Main Street in Haydenville gave lessons on what a neighborhood is and to whom it belongs. I’ve lived on South Main Street all my life, in the house that has been my family’s for four generations. I am proud of my neighborhood and treasure the neighborly ways we live on our street. Therefore, I think I bring a legitimate voice to this discussion.
One writer “forgives” South Main residents for our ungroomed sidewalk and “even parking” on it (which I’ve never seen). Although surely not the intent, I found their comments condescending and offensive. We’re a modest neighborhood, but we love life on our street just as I hope you do where you live. The things the writer seems to find offensive about our neighborhood bother no one who lives here. The other writer challenges our safety concerns as “misleading.” But solid data and MassDOT guidelines actually support the neighborhood’s alternative proposal for enjoyable and safe accommodations for both bicycles and pedestrians along our rural village street.
Town neighborhoods hold valuable history. My neighbors and I should not be accused of being uncaring about the whole town, or less knowledgeable about safety, especially after working diligently to present a very safe, workable and fully fundable alternative to the deeply unpopular Greenway plan. South Main residents have never been against a safe bike path, but this design is not appropriate for our street.
Madelyn Breen
Haydenville