The Jan. 16 Tribune had an interesting story. A group of people took a bus ride around Albert Lea with Dan Burden. Mr. Burden is in Albert Lea to help us find ways to make the city more friendly for walkers and bikers. I agreed with some of his ideas but not others.

Mr. Burden, I gather, does not like parking lots. Albert Lea is filled with vacant buildings because too many people will not patronize a business that does not have dependable parking close by.

Mr. Burden was critical of the Kwik Trip at West Front Street. There probably isn’t a small business in Albert Lea that does more business than this one. I’m sure most of the people living within walking distance of this store are glad its there. A lot of motorists find it a handy place to stop.

I do agree that crossing islands make it less stressful for pedestrians to cross busy streets, especially those that are four lanes wide.

I do not agree with his idea of bulldozing the old Wal-Mart store. Albert Lea already has numerous malls of all sizes. They all have empty spaces in them.

Main Street is a beautiful street to drive on, but I’m sure there are places where pedestrians don’t feel safe crossing. Bikers seem to avoid it too.

Mr. Burden believes every street should have a sidewalk. There are editors at the Tribune who agree with him. I have lived on Swanhill Drive for about 30 years and haven’t missed them. Students walk or bike on the streets coming or going to school. Adults use the streets for exercise. For years after Sibley and Southwest schools were built, there were teachers living on the Hills who walked to school. I believe our modern-day teachers drive. Drivers are used to seeing pedestrians and bikers on the streets and watch out for them.

If you live on one of the Hills or any other part of town without a sidewalk, go over to your window and take a long look at the place a sidewalk would be. Ask yourself if you would enjoy shoveling the snow off the sidewalk. Get in your car and drive to a part of town that has sidewalks. Stop and ask someone if they enjoy keeping the sidewalk free of snow.

Some places the sidewalk is next to the curb. Whenever a snowplow comes by, it throws snow onto the sidewalk. The homeowner shovels his walk only to have a snowplow come by again. If the homeowner shovels the snow back into the street, he will be fined. If he doesn’t clear his walk, the city will do it and charge him a exhorbitant fee. There are some who have suggested Bridge Avenue could be widened by moving it out to the sidewalks. I would tell the city to buy my house first.

If the city ever calls a meeting to discuss putting sidewalks along the Hill streets, join with me in going and protesting.

Roger Fink

Albert Lea