To the editor:
We want a safer and a more walkable town for pedestrians in Wellesley. As of now, the Wellesley community primarily relies on automobiles for transportation. This is largely in part to the epidemic plaguing America since the 1950s—urban sprawl. In short, urban sprawl leads to spread out, car-dependent infrastructure. Driving is the most dangerous common mode of transportation for both drivers and pedestrians, so much so that in January 2026 there were 4 car crashes on Grove Street alone. The fewer cars on the road, the safer it is for everyone.
To continue, Wellesley is already working for a net-zero environment by 2050, so reducing car usage and increasing the walking rates would help a lot with meeting the goal. The target for 2030 is a reduction in emissions by 30%. Emissions from on-road vehicles decreased 16.9% between 2007 and 2024. However, vehicle emissions have increased by 0.4% between 2023 and 2024.
Additionally, creating more paths in town and/or making our sidewalks wider impacts everyone around town. Kids who walk to school on route nine have to cross the very busy main road at prime times of the day while parents and other adults are also on their way to work. Some sides of route nine do not have sidewalks, which is highly unsafe and leads kids to drive to school instead of walking, due to how unsafe it is. Also, vehicle emissions are responsible for 34% of greenhouse gas emissions in Wellesley, as a result, reducing car dependency is an important local strategy for climate mitigation.
It is your responsibility to help Wellesley achieve the net-zero goal/zero carbon emissions by 2050, and anything would help! Walking to school, biking to work, carpooling when available, or if the distance is too large, you could even take the public transit! But ultimately, you have the power to make a difference. Remember to always stride instead of ride!
Kate Rosenbaum and Keira Moulton
Wellesley Middle School 8th graders
