Saturdays opening of the King of Trails Bridge on South Washington Avenue over Elm Creek, which connects Iola with the Lehigh Portland Trails complex, takes away peoples excuses, Iola Mayor Jon Wells said.
Excuses like:
I want to use the trails, but Im not going to drive there.
I just cant run that far. Id like to walk, but Ill never get there.
Those excuses wont work anymore, Wells said in a speech at Saturdays dedication ceremony for the new bridge. The bridge forces Iolas residents to reconsider their options.
City leaders made excuses, too, Wells acknowledged.
For 20 or 30 years, people have talked about this bridge and every year was, we couldnt afford it, Wells said. And when we make excuses in our lives they become our reality.