The Grand Avenue bridge project has drummed up plenty of opinions and divided this community quite a bit. I have spent months reading the opinions page to see every side of the argument. The common theme: Something has to be done about the terrible traffic in downtown. Too much, too congested, too dangerous.

Yes, let’s make improvements where they are needed and warranted. However, I wonder if most people only notice the traffic while they are sitting alone in their own vehicle yelling at the RFTA or Ride Glenwood bus to move out of the way? The irony of a traffic-jammed Grand Avenue full of cars carrying only the driver stuck behind an empty RFTA bus is just amazing.

A new bridge will only do so much. If we really want to see improvements in the number of cars in downtown, we need to be part of the solution. There are inexpensive choices that we can make that have multiple benefits for ourselves and the community. So, ride that bus to work, walk or bike to the store, and set up that new carpool with your friends and coworkers. Let us not sit back and wait for the miracle cure of a new bridge or a bypass. A community problem takes a community to solve it.