By Alison McFerrin

The Selma Times-Journal

One Selma resident is trying to set the wheels in motion for another transportation option in Selma — new bike paths.

“You all don’t have any, period,” Selma resident Mark Brookins said. “Maybe some of the streets in Selma aren’t wide enough for a bike trail, but they could be.”

Brookins said he has lived in Selma since 2006, when he moved from Chicago, Ill. In Chicago, Brookins said, bike trails are widely accessible, and he said they should be in Selma, as well.

That’s why he went before the City Council on June 14.

“As a city that is standing as the “Let’s Move!” city, we certainly need to be looking at being more active,” Councilwoman Susan Keith said in response to Brookins’ proposal.

Keith also mentioned that Dr. Monica Newton, former councilwoman of Ward 3, had been working on bike plans.

“I don’t know where we are on that, but maybe we should check on it,” Keith said.

In 2009 Newton brought the idea of greenways — linear open spaces established along a natural corridor, such as a river, stream, ridgeline, rail-trail, canal or other route for conservation, recreation or alternative transportation purposes — before the City Council.

Phone calls to Mayor George Evans on the topic were not returned.

Councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw suggested to Brookins that he draw up some plans of where he thought bike trails should be located to bring before the Council at a later date.

“This is what it takes to make a great city — putting these ideas together,” said Brookins, who mentioned roads like Jeff Davis Avenue, Water Avenue and Broad Street as possibilities for the trails. “You have all these great engineers. See if they can engineer a bike trail.”