STREET SWEEPERS AND BUSY STREETS

Each week, Cape Girardeau's two street sweepers can be found cleaning more than 200 miles of streets. The city tries to clean each street at least once, with busier streets getting more attention.

Some streets are harder to sweep because of constant traffic. But it would behoove the city to schedule cleaning of business or commercial areas during nonwork hours.

Following one of the lumbering sweepers can become annoying to harried drivers on their way to and from work. And why encourage such ill will for a scheduling glitch? Perhaps the city staff should set specific times for sweeping some of the busier streets.

The street sweeper is a nice service to Cape Girardeau along with the leaf pickup. It is a great way to help keep the city tidy.

But somewhere the truce must be struck between man and machine, hurried motorists and bulky street sweepers. A delicate balance of patience and timing may be the answer.