A masterful plan: Making Manchester walkable

At a forum Monday night, members of Manchester's master plan steering committee expressed surprise that so many residents asked for the city to be more walkable. That desire should surprise no one.

Manchester was once more walkable than it is today. Former Mayor Bob Baines and other long-time residents have often lamented the loss of small, local markets and close-knit, cohesive neighborhoods.

As Manchester has grown, commercial activity was moved out of neighborhoods and into specially zoned sections, such as South Willow Street. There have been benefits to that, but also obvious drawbacks.

We are not among the anti-automobile crowd, which wants sidewalks and bike paths to replace supposedly sinister SUVs. But when people can safely travel a city without having to get in their cars, it improves the quality of life.

The city's master plan needs to take into account the desire of many residents to reclaim some of Manchester's past. Making the city more pedestrian friendly will improve the quality of life and perhaps bring back some of the charm that was lost years ago.