To the Editor:
I enjoyed your piece “rail against trails may fail,” regarding the effort in the Board of Supervisors to enact a plan for providing access to more walking and biking trails in Chesterfield. I assumed that it would be voted down, based on the cheapness and resistance to change that I associate with the Board. Much to my surprise, the measure passed 3 to 2!
Perhaps the high number of supporters enlisted by the “Bike Walk RVA” group carried some weight with the Board? Of course there were the usual howls of protest by the Chesterfield Patriots – and those howls will continue. That alone almost made the whole thing a plus.
From my perspective, Chesterfield has always paid dollars for car infrastructure and pennies for walkers and bikers, even viewing sidewalks as a silly extravagance. The absurd sprawl that has resulted will defy any efforts to effect more sensible land use. But this baby step as a “second act” for the Chesterfield way of life may help attract the young people that we need to sustain our community in future decades. Unless of course opponents keep fighting and supporters lose their focus.
Chris Wiegard
