For the past few weeks the train has been blocking the walking path from lower Baker Street to the dog walk. This has been a continual annoyance for me and my family as we try to live a healthy lifestyle. In days past we could ride our bikes from Rosemont to Cottonwood Falls and across the tracks to the path. This way we could avoid the busy streets and the pollution caused by motor vehicles while heading to Lakeside Park.
Biking with preschoolers can be a hectic affair. Sometimes my children lose focus and react unpredictably on their bikes. For that reason we want to avoid busy sidewalks and streets while riding around. But instead of being able to use the flattest, safest, healthiest and most scenic pathway, we are forced to go around the train and the airport and access the path from the Prestige hotel. Half of this wonderful public path is effectively barred to us, as my girls are more interested in biking to the park as opposed to the dump.
There seems to be a focus in Nelson on healthy living through an active lifestyle, yet as my little family tries to access the waterway path on foot or bike we are blocked by a giant ugly train, parked there for no other reason than to block active people from accessing the waterfront.
For years and years, train and active folks have managed to live in harmony. Suddenly, the power that be have decided that the train needs to be in the way so that we cannot cross “private property” to access our much loved waterway.
I was not aware of any public input or debate to block access to the path. If it is public safety they are worried about, the train makes it way more hazardous on account of some people deciding to climb between cars or walk around the train to cross the tracks.
To the CPR I say: Please move that train and grant us the right-of-way we have enjoyed for years. I promise that my family will cross the tracks as safely and quickly as possible. You will not even know that we were there.
David Grevy
Nelson