Sidewalk cleanup not happening here

I took my first Elgin bus ride in about 40 years. To help fight global warming and keep more money in my pocket, my family is trying to get by with two cars for three drivers. To be nice to my teenage son, I let him have the second car to go to school and my wife and I get by with one to get us both to work.

I worked an inconvenient overtime shift today so I needed to take the bus rather than have my wife drop me off. With the sidewalk on Big Timber covered with 1½ feet of snow from Lyle to McLean, I had to dodge speeding cars while walking in the street to the bus stop.

One possible consolation is if I get hit by a car, then my family will only have two drivers in the family. At the time that I am walking to the bus stop, there is no bus going from the Metra station on Big Timber that would shorten my walk.

I now know what someone who depends on buses puts up with when we get a big snowfall. We need to get those sidewalks cleared. It is not happening in some parts of Elgin when it comes to clearing sidewalks.

I am going to try harder myself to do my part to clear my sidewalks every snowfall. Maybe more people would ride buses if the sidewalks were clear enough to walk to the bus stops.

I can't wait to turn 65 so I can ride the bus for free if I make it there after dodging the speeding cars. It will almost make it seem worthwhile to do my part to lower global warming.

Clarence Hayward

Elgin