Consider options for transportation

COLUMBIA — I, too, read the Oct. 22 article in the Missourian about a new fence project along U.S. 63 meant to prevent people from walking across the highway to do shopping. I applaud Mary Hussmann’s suggestion in a Letter to the Editor on Oct. 30 to reduce the speed limit on U.S. 63 within Columbia city limits to 60 mph, as is the case on Interstate 70. I think it is an important first step. But I feel we should also redesign the area to accommodate safe walking. I do not think the Missouri Department of Transportation should view “transportation” as being done only in cars. We need department engineers to develop creative solutions to accommodate and encourage other ways — especially walking and bike riding, since, as a nation, we are getting more and more overweight, complete with all of the associated health problems — to get where we need to go. And this is due directly to our lack of exercise. We have engineered the environment we live in to assure that we cannot exercise, and building a wall to prevent walking is a perfect example of this. We have choices to make — why can’t we choose a much more healthful solution that accommodates — even better — encourages safe walking in our community?