By Niki Delson
Age-Friendly Carbondale

Editor’s note: Age-Friendly Carbondale will present an analysis of its community survey regarding Highway 133 to Carbondale’s Bike, Pedestrian and Trails Commission on May 6 at 6pm. 

It was a beautiful afternoon. The offshore weather was mild. I had a few hours for a late afternoon bike ride before the Pacific fog rolled in and the temperature dropped.

Most of the ride was along a wide shoulder of Highway 101. I was used to riding with the sound of logging trucks mixed with the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean, and I was never afraid. What I remember about this ride was avoiding an unusual amount of debris on the shoulder. Instead of feeling the delightful Northwest breeze, I was angry and silently cursing the unknown, inconsiderate people who littered.

I came into the house, pacing, grumbling, complaining loudly and ignoring Ron sitting at the table reading. “Why doesn’t CalTrans clean the roads? Why don’t people keep garbage pails in their cars? Blah blah blah.”  Ron turned to me. “Are you asking me to listen to your uncommitted complaining?“ I thought about it for a few moments … “Yes,”  I said, expecting him to give me some attention. “I decline your request,” he responded, and continued reading. 

The following week, I called the Highways Department and signed up to clean a mile of Highway 101. They wanted to know what group was volunteering, and I asked that the sign say, “Cyclists for Clean Highways.” They gave me a hard hat, a yellow vest, a pickup grabber stick and a sling bag for recycling cans. They showed me pictures of bottles of urine that truck drivers flung out their windows, advising me to leave those in the dirt. 

I usually went garbage picking alone. People honked and waved and thanked me. I saw different kinds of bugs, found small trails into the redwoods, counted cigarette butts, saw an ant hill that was more than a foot high, rolled old car tires and hubcaps to the side of the highway, heard the sea lions migrating, and rarely had to hop over the jars of yellowing liquid. I wondered what it would be like to be a logging truck driver. I wondered why teenage boys driving pickup trucks were so often obnoxious.

Highway 101 spans 1,500 miles from Los Angeles to Seattle. At the end of my shift (I was my own boss), a mile of that dirty highway was cleaned. One tiny light lit in my little corner of the world.

I have decided to pause my writing and realign. I am going for a walk. I often do that when I don’t know the direction I am going or where I want to end up. 

I’m back. While I was walking and thinking, I decided that my next paragraph would be about all the uncommitted complaining about Carbondale that I read on Facebook. Then I realized that I would be complaining about people complaining. Where would that lead? Not where I want to end up. 

Instead, I want to express gratitude to all who contribute to the Town’s vitality and make us feel good about living here. Walking with friends, I see so many minor life-affirming behaviors. People stop to pick up other people’s discarded trash or dog waste. Pedestrians stop to say good morning (buenos días) to their neighbors and have random conversations about their day. Folks stop to help children with chains that dropped off their bikes. We may not know all of our neighbors’ names, but we seem to know their dogs’ names. 

I know people who sit on boards and commissions and freely give time and energy to make Carbondale a more livable community. 

When Age-Friendly Carbondale (AFC) decided to help clothe our Venezuelan newcomers throughout the winter months, I posted a request on the Carbondale Facebook page. Dozens of unknown neighbors contributed clothes and helped sort them, translating into hundreds of hours of community service. People brought and served meals and contributed money. Some took newcomers into their homes. I didn’t always get to thank them, so I’m thanking them now. For three months, they lit up this little corner of Colorado. 

Highway 133 survey
I started this column by sharing an experience on Highway 101 in California. Now, I want to turn to the highway that runs through our Town, dividing East from West, representing poor town planning that we have worried and complained about for years. 

Thank you to the more than 500 people who took the time to talk with AFC, fill out our Highway 133 survey and complete our mapping exercise. We promised you we would create a conduit for your voices to be heard. We are finishing our analysis of your comments and will present our report to the Bike, Pedestrian and Trails Commission at 6pm on May 6.  

Naturalist John Burroughs said that “The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.” Great sentiment! If you’re concerned about Colorado Highway 133 in Carbondale, please do one small deed to improve the situation. Join us at 6pm on May 6, and let your voice be heard and help us transform complaints into commitments that produce change. 

Mature Content is a monthly feature from Age-Friendly Carbondale.