Are sidewalks going out of style?
By barehugs
@barehugs (8973)
Canada
June 5, 2010 9:32pm CST
Living as I do in 2 countries I've been noticing that sidewalks in many new developments in US Cities are non existent. Elementary and High Schools seem to have them, but when you drive down-town you have to stay in your car to cross the street because there are no crosswalks. Obesity is rampant because very few exercise, and walking is one of the best ways to work off the fat. Canadian Cities are lined with sidewalks and most stop lights have crossing signs for pedestrians. Do you walk on a sidewalk? Where have the sidewalks gone in your city, and why are there none?
2 people like this
8 responses
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
6 Jun 10
This is a new one on me. I live in the US and I have not seen any fewer sidewalks at all. In fact they have added more here to make walking safer for people that don't drive. We have an awful lot of pedestrians around here so I really can't imagine them eliminating the sidewalks. We also have bike paths to get around to various destinations in the city and they are used by both pedestrians and cyclists. Not sure what part of the US you are talking about but we have plenty of walkers and cyclists around where I live. The only place that I really see that there are not many sidewalks is in the rural country areas but that does not mean people don't walk. I have not seen one city with no cross walks nor one down town with no sidewalks. Where are you talking about, Barehugs?
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
7 Jun 10
Many times, when traveling in the US, I've stopped at a motel beside the freeway. After renting the motel room, I found to my consternation that heavy rush hour traffic made reaching a restaurant several blocks away, next to impossible. With no sidewalks and no crosswalks, only option I had (like everyone else) was to get in the car and drive the one or 2 blocks to get something to eat.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
7 Jun 10
Oh, I see now. On the freeways you will hardly ever see sidewalks. In fact I don't recall there ever having been many freeways with sidewalks. I could be wrong on that. When my friend and I walk along the highway we usually walk in the breakdown lane. And you are right....crossing one of those is like taking your life in your hands. I almost never see a crosswalk on a busy highway. You gave me a thought of something that should be brought up at the next city meeting. I hadn't really thought of it because it's been that way here for as long as I can remember and you just get used to it. I live in a college city and there are so so many pedestrians and cyclists here. For the most part, you could walk anywhere from where you live to any part of town. But if you were staying in a hotel on the highway then it could be a problem. Crosswalks really should be in place everywhere.
@juicekodai (1121)
• Philippines
6 Jun 10
well, here in our country or here in our place.. there are still side walks... but there are also places that sidewalks have become a place for the vendors.. tsktsktsk...
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
7 Jun 10
Vehicular traffic has become a problem in many places of dense population in North America, and in these conditions its not safe to walk on the streets. In areas that cater to seniors, sidewalks are built in. But in other developments of larger houses designed for the young family, sidewalks appear to have been forgotten.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
6 Jun 10
hi barehugs I am in the US and when we lived in Tempe Arizona it just drove me nuts as there were a lot of places where there were no sidewalks at all. now I live in Ca lifornia and most places I have lived here do have lovely sidewalks so you can indeed take a walk and not have to dodge traffic.Even here in Garden Grove we have a lot of sidewalks around Gold Crest where you can take a nice long walk and we are close to s tore and the inevitable fast food joints too. I have always wondered why some cities and towns do not have sidewalks,just to save money? I really am'not sure of the answer.
@StephanieAnnC (4274)
• United States
6 Jun 10
I agree. I don't know where the sidewalks went! It's such a pain to walk to place to place with cars whizzing past. How scary!
Maybe they got rid of them because they figure so many people drive nowadays and that since buildings aren't that close together in my town, we don't need them. I find it utterly ridiculous though if that's the case.
Maybe they got rid of them because they figure so many people drive nowadays and that since buildings aren't that close together in my town, we don't need them. I find it utterly ridiculous though if that's the case.@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
7 Jun 10
hi fellow mylotters thats what I loved about Tustin Ca the city I moved from as there are sidewalks down Newport Avenue and also bike trails for the bikers, Tustin is a lovely city and I do miss 
it so. lol.
it so. lol.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
6 Jun 10
Living in New York for almost all of my life the streets are lined with sidewalks. However, now moving and living in New Mexico for the past three years there are no sidewalks in my area at all. In the city of course there are but in my residential area not many at all. Taking a walk around the Loop that I live in I have to walk on the side of the street. Thankfully there is not alot of traffic around my area where I walk so its not so bad. I know in my area everyone has a garage to park their cars in. Cars are not parked on the street. I wish I knew the reason for this. Maybe its when planning to build a house they want the homeowner to have more land. If you put in sidewalks it takes space away from the home itself. I can't think of any other reason.
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
7 Jun 10
Sidewalks must be in the plan before the houses are built. Sidewalks take up space and cost money. If no one uses the sidewalk, no one misses it. Why spend the money, if the sidewalk wont be used? Health care costs go way up when people get fat and out of condition from not walking.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
6 Jun 10
I don't see as many sidewalks now as I did as a child. Downtown city streets have the most sidewalks now. Highway growth and heavy traffic areas suffer the sidewalk loss. Sidewalks may soon be obsolete and become a memory of the past.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
7 Jun 10
Sidewalks will be around for a very long time if people want them. Its not the fault of the city or the municipality that walking has gone out of style. People are becoming fat and lazy, and its a Fact that the present generation will be the first generation ever, to die younger than their parents. (Walk to stay Fit!)
@elmare0699 (163)
• South Africa
6 Jun 10
Hi, I am from South Africa and here we still have sidewalks. Most of my countrymen get to work by walking long distances and if sidewalks were to be taken away it would be a catastrophe.
Even the sides of our highways and byways are clear, although not necessarily paved, as we have many informal settlements next to the roads.
We do have a problem when it comes to ongoing construction, as the sidewalks get closed off, forcing the pedestrians to walk in the road, but even that is not such a big problem as drivers have long ago learnt to give way to the pedestrians, even when they are walking in the road.
What I would like to see in my country are the beautiful parks one finds in the big cities of American where you see people strolling, playing, jogging, cycling or just relaxing in the sunshine.
Our parks are not so big or so people friendly.
So you see, we all have our crosses to bear.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
7 Jun 10
I am a Farmer in Canada, and of course there are no sidewalks in the country. We walk nearly every day on the road. Traffic is not heavy and we are careful to walk along the edge of the road. We don't need parks in the country, because we are busy, and get all the exercise we need tending to our agricultural pursuits.
@nanangriyanto (183)
• Indonesia
25 Jun 10
Often when we walk on the road, I will use the sidewalk, for the sake of security and safety. When the crossing was usually I use the pedestrian paths. But in my country, because of bad road conditions, the sidewalks in the past by a motorcycle. Very dangerous, is'nt it?
@zedrick_11 (931)
• Philippines
6 Jun 10
here in the Philippines there are still sidewalks everywhere, because people tend to walk rather than using motorcycles or any vehicle, because NGO's here promotes a green lifestyle, they do go to areas where they will gather all the citizens and tell them all about a green lifestyle..
they will discuss all the advantages of walking instead of using vehicles..
We must be aware of what's happening on our mother-earth now.. so for me sidewalks must still be made or cycling roads can be another option..
have a nice day..
