I’m writing in reference to “City seeks input on mills”[Gazette, May 29], in which we learn that the city of Easthampton is looking for ways to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety near the mills on Pleasant Street.
While I’m sure that there are some improvements that the city could make, I do wonder how much responsibility belongs to the city vs. how much belongs to drivers and pedestrians. We have experienced so many drivers coming from side streets without carefully checking both ways for oncoming traffic,that it seems as if few drivers are taking responsibility for driving safely, responsibly, and courteously.
The same holds true for pedestrians. Do they always use crosswalks, dress so that they can be seen, look both ways before entering a crosswalk? Common courtesy, taking responsibility for ourselves and our behavior, and showing respect for others all seem to be in short supply in our world today. I’m not sure how to solve that problem, but it seems as if our city is not completely at fault.
Evelyn Billings
Easthampton