MAY 2002:  RING O' THE RIVER

Jamin' with Jane and I are members of the River Action Committee.  This is a group dedicated to the preservation and development of the Mississippi.  It is they who sponsor the Father's Day event called Ride the River.  Doubtless you've seen the throngs of bicyclers on the bike paths that day.  We got involved because Brettun & Black Store/Museum is on the route and since made us automatically involved we decided to join and make it official.  It turned out to be a very enjoyable experience, being associated with a dedicated, energetic, and fun group of people.

 

In my opinion, the development of the bike/walking path which now stretches from the west end of Rock Island to beyond Cordova, has been one of the most positive things that has happened in recent times.  I remember when they started talking about bringing the path through Hampton.  Many people were apprehensive, fearing we would be engulfed by Hoodlums from the "Cities", with thieving, vandalism, and even worse.  Living just half a block from the path, walking it frequently, and meeting people at Black's Store, I am ready to state:  "People who ride the bike path are nice folks.

 

Getting back to "Ride the River", one of the committee members is Chuck Oestreich an avid bike enthusiast.  Perhaps you've seen his column in the QC Times, about biking of course.  His April 15 column dealt with his vision of the future.  He was elated that the ground extending the Iowa path through Bettendorf was secured and he visualized that in the not to distant future, there would be a "Ring O' the River" which would enable Quad-Citians to make a complete circuit on both sides of the river.  Of course, to do this requires a bridge that can accomodate pedestrian and bicycles.  This is in the works and I agree with Chuck that if this is not done we will have passed up a great opportunity.  With the current emphasis on the poor physical shape of Americans could help that problem.  Also, how many people whose jobs are across the river might leave their cars in the garage, in nice weather, and go to work via bicycle.  It could significantly help the traffic problem.  Not to mention the ability to view both banks of the river on a Sunday afternoon ride.  I urge readers to keep this in mind when or if we have a chance for input.  A number of readers, I'm sure are bikers.  Notably that eminent Hamptonian, Louis Sonneville who gives new meaning to the term Biking Enthusiast!

 

Actually, I'm not a biker myself.  I had a bike as a little kid and on my 11th birthday I was going to get a fine new bicycle.  I had it picked out.  A Firestone with the balloon tires (the thing to have at that time).  We went to town on April 10, my birthday to get the bike, only to find out the government had "frozen" bicycles.  I forgot to tell you it was 1942 and we were in World War II.  So I didn't get the bike.  What a deprived childhood I had!

 

In spite of my this, I'm going to take Chuck's dream a step farther.  To the day we'll be able to go from New Orleans to St Paul, up one side and down the other, biking or hiking.  That would really be a "Ring O' the River".