We’re great people in Sioux Falls. If I’ve said that once, I’ve said it a million times.
But I’ve had several recent experiences that leave me feeling Sioux Falls isn't the “good thing going” it used to be.
Many of us in Sioux Falls aren’t all that nice. In fact, we’ve become fairly thoughtless.
I found myself just off 57th and I-229 several months ago in a stalled vehicle. It was just before 7pm on a Friday evening and traffic was heavy.
My car wouldn’t move. It wouldn’t even start.
I turned on my flashers and immediately called for Roadside Assistance. And then I waited.
I watched as cars came zooming up behind me. Many drivers had their faces in their phones. Others were speeding.
I gritted my teeth each time and waited for the jarring impact I feared would come only to watch them swerve at the last moment to avoid me.
Several laid on their horns. Many shot me the middle finger as if I was sitting there simply to be an inconvenience to them.
Not one of them stopped to help.
Finally, a Good Samaritan came along. He was a dutiful Sioux Falls police officer who had stopped to be sure I was okay.
I regret that I didn’t catch his name. He was truly one of Sioux Falls’ finest. He bent over backwards to help me. The tow truck showed up shortly afterward.
My car was taken off to be serviced and, honestly, I didn't give this any more thought until recently.
As my bad luck would have it, I had a similar experience just over a week ago in Denver. My son lives there.
I was traveling on I-70 at 70 mph when I noticed the “low tire” light flashing.
The dashboard warning was quickly confirmed by several passing motorists who waved to get my attention and helpfully pointed at my rear tire.
I took the next available exit. As I slowed to make the turn, I knew it was bad.
The tire was shredded by the time I stopped a few blocks later. I had pulled off on a quiet side street.surrounded by several large apartment buildings.
I was barely out of the car when the first motorist stopped with an offer of help. I assured him I was okay.
“Are you sure? I’ve got tools right here,” he said cheerfully.
I thanked him for the offer and sent him on his way.
Two more drivers stopped with offers to help in the very short time it took me to remove the tire. Both of them were smiling and eager to help. I had three offers of help literally in the span of a few minutes.
Twenty minutes later I had the spare on and we were back on the road.
The guys at Discount Tire Center were just as friendly.
I was giving my bank card information to the sales associate who was helping me. His face lit up when he heard me say, “Sioux Falls”.
“Hey, we’re opening a new location in Sioux Falls,” he said brightly. I had a great conversation with him about his experiences in Colorado.
The team there had a new tire on my vehicle within 40 minutes.
The hotel service that we received in Denver was just as stellar.
One hotel worker overheard a conversation I was having with my daughter as we were getting breakfast.
As my daughter walked off, the woman smiled at me brightly and whispered, “You’re a good dad.” I felt like a million bucks.
I’ve been thinking about all these recent experiences now that I’m back home.
I’m remembering the young woman that I saw here in town just before my trip to Denver.
She laid on her horn and flipped the bird to the driver ahead because they didn’t start moving quickly enough after a stoplight turned green. I see that happen here often.
I keep a running count on the way home each afternoon of the number of people I see running red lights.
However, I never saw a single Denver driver flip the bird.
Nor did I hear them on their horns despite being a tense, out of state driver clumsily navigating through the big city.
There are plenty of terrific, friendly people in Sioux Falls. I am fortunate to count many among my friends and neighbors.
But Sioux Falls is a long way off from being the welcoming community we claim to be.
We could learn a lot from the wonderful people of Denver.
Greg Belfrage is heard 6am-9am on KELO 1320 AM and 105.1 FM. Greg can be contacted at
greg.belfrage@mwcradio.com
