Eppelsheimer: Commuters aren’t the problem

Aspen is sustained by commuters. Without us, this town grinds to a halt. Yet we are treated like the problem instead of the lifeblood of this community.

Driving is not selfish. It is the reality of making a living here. Many of us juggle multiple jobs while managing childcare, hauling tools, accessing healthcare, or running errands. If public transit was faster, more reliable, and more abundant, we would use it. But buses are full, park-and-rides overflow, and carpooling is not an option for everyone.

Meanwhile, 40 miles of traffic funnel into a single choke point. Instead of fixing infrastructure, leaders talk endlessly about reducing traffic by taxing commuters, adding roadblocks, or closing public routes. These are not solutions. They are simply obstacles for people who are already struggling to make a living.

Commuters are the chefs, caregivers, carpenters, hoteliers, teachers, and small business owners who build, clean, teach, maintain, and host. Without commuters, the businesses and services that give Aspen its character and value would not exist. You cannot have the benefits of our services without the people — and yes, that includes the traffic.

Where is our seat at the table? Most commuters cannot even vote in city elections because we cannot afford to live here, yet decisions about traffic are made without our input. Fix the choke points. Create transit that moves people faster. Build housing we can afford.

Blaming commuters for simply trying to make a living solves nothing. We are tired, and many of us are ready to leave this valley because we can no longer enjoy the benefits of living here. Maybe leaders will ultimately succeed in reducing traffic. I fear Aspen will not just lose cars, it will lose its people — and with them, the heart of this town.

Lou Eppelsheimer

Carbondale