Let's go, Otsego.

Judging from my recent travels, I'm beginning to believe that walking paths, biking trails, and non-motorized commuting networks are available everywhere but Otsego County.

Madison, WI has bike paths the same width as auto lanes, bike/ped trails around their beautiful lakes and an amazing pedestrian campus.

Pittsburgh's green belt, the Montour Trail, extends from Pennsylvania through West Virginia and will eventually take you to Washington, DC, via the Allegheny Trail System.

Once there, the bike routes of Alexandria, VA lead to Mount Vernon, for a stop by George and Martha's old place.

Las Vegas is pedestrian friendly, making the most of the economic rewards of getting people on their feet. Even Oz has a yellow brick road.

Ironically, there is much ado on the pedestrian front in Columbia, MO, the town I walked from kindergarten through college. My old hometown is one of six to receive $25 million federal dollars each to enhance walking and cycling commuting. Columbia is including a tunnel at an especially hazardous intersection, amongst other projects that go far in complementing the KATY Trail, a star of the Rails to Trails program, which runs by Columbia.

While Otsego County may treasure our quaint nostalgia, on this front we need get into progressive step with the rest of the country. Making our county more livable and more desirable is our constant responsibility, especially in light of our dwindling population. Among so many possible projects, a river walk along the Susquehanna, re-establishing the trail between Cooperstown and Fly Creek and building a safer Route 28 have great potential.

New and re-elected County Board representatives take note of what you can do in your area to make walking and cycling safer and more accessible. Think in terms of transportation not tethered to an expensive, polluting automobile, especially since we've all been recently reminded of the high cost of rural commuting. It doesn't have to be a major project. Something as simple as a bus shelter or bike rack can make a big difference in the comfort and safety of your constituents.

For those involved with the intermodal transportation center in Cooperstown, make sure that it truly is intermodal and include transportation methods fueled by sweat.

Local historians can help find old rail or trolley lines that can be converted to bike paths. Every walker, runner, cyclist or kid who needs to get to school safely, can demand transportation dollars be spent on their needs.

All of us have a stake in the county's healthy and prosperous future and we can all contribute to its improvement.

Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy, count your blessings, and remember that walking just thirty miles will work off the feast.

Brenda Berstler is the founder of the Walking Example Group (WE-GO) a non-profit organization encouraging walking and walkable communities. Visit their website at www.we-go.org.