While I applaud the active demonstration of those Gardendale residents who braved our traffic-filled streets in order to call attention to their cause (“Group raises awareness on two-mile bus rule,” 8/27/08), I feel theirs is a misplaced complaint.

Yes, it can be unsafe to walk up to two miles to get to school in Gardendale, and yes, the morning school traffic is congested.

The problem, however, is not Jefferson County schools’ busing policy, but Gardendale’s complete focus on individual automobiles as a basis of city planning.

As mentioned by the protesters and the North Jefferson News article, there are virtually no crosswalks, crossing signals, crossing guards or bicycle lanes in our city and only a limited amount of unprotected sidewalks.

Even if students or citizens wanted to walk or bike to school and so avoid traffic (as well as decrease pollution, increase exercise, save money, and other obvious benefits), their ambitions are severely restricted by the unwelcoming city structure and a lack of pedestrian safety.

As Gardendale prepares to enter a new stage of leadership and, apparently, commercial growth, now is the time to make progressive changes that will allow its citizens access to simple, safe, healthy, cost-saving transportation — by foot or pedal — before unchecked growth makes it much more difficult to change.

Surely we should have the right to simply walk around the wonderful place in which we live, especially to go to school.

Justin Brasher

Gardendale