We the undersigned do petition the board of the Waco Downtown Farmers Market to do away with the mini train at Saturday Market.

The train produces noxious fumes and a great deal of noise pollution, which greatly compromises the experience of attending the market.

It in no way fits within the markets stated mission, being neither locally grown nor produced.

The operator of the train does not follow Market rules, does not stay within his designated route, and does not show awareness of pedestrians or other vehicles. He is a danger to market guests and a liability to the market as a whole. He has been observed utilizing public roads to turn around on, and driving on public sidewalks.

Four Saturdays ago, my family was enjoying the shade beneath the trees behind the Bank of America drive thru teller building, and the train continually utilized that side walk as a part of its route, causing us to have to scramble to gather up our children with each pass, as he did not slow down while passing us. Eventually, in a move that felt distinctly aggressive given everything that followed, he drove his train through the grass, a mere foot or two from where I was sitting holding my one year old son. We reported the incident to the market manager and were assured that he is not allowed to drive on those sidewalks as they are not covered by the markets insurance. Later the train operator confronted us, suggesting that we needed to keep our children in the designated farmers market area, that any rational person would move when they noticed a train coming by every five minutes, and that, because he was providing a "much loved service", he should get to drive in this "nice shady place". We informed him of our conversation with the market manager and our knowledge of his boundaries. Nevertheless, this week he was AGAIN utilizing the grass as a part of his route.

The new market site is ill equipped for a mini train. It is a nuisance and a liability. Please suspend its use.