POTENTIAL CONFLICTS

Today, it is normal to see neighborhoods without sidewalks. This is partly due to the change in development out in the suburbs and going from an urban environment to a suburban environment. The idea was that people who moved to these suburbs did not have amenities nearby, and therefore would drive to wherever they needed. Sidewalks were not developed because of the idea that the cost and maintenance of them would not be cost effective and people would never need to use them. However, statistically it has been proven that pedestrian-motorist crashes are more than twice as likely to occur in places without sidewalks; this includes neighborhood roads.

Many people who moved out to the suburbs were wanting to escape the urban feel, and so sidewalks were opposed because it was “too urban” for a place that residents wanted to keep “rural.” Other arguments include people don’t walk so they won’t be used, losing yard space for the installation of sidewalks, constant maintenance especially during the winter season, and that sidewalks can be a detracting factor in a neighborhood and decrease property values.

Despite these reasons that residents might be opposed to having sidewalks in neighborhoods, it is proven that people with access to sidewalks are more likely to be active because they have access to the amenity. Also, a residential property with a sidewalk and even street trees are likely to sell for more and faster because they increase property values, not decrease them. Sidewalks usually are not installed on private property unless the owner of the land wants to install them personally. Many sidewalks are installed in the right-of-way that is owned publicly, therefore the owner is not losing their property to a public use for all to use.

Sidewalks not only benefit the value of a home, but also retail properties. Retail properties with access to sidewalks will usually see and increase in their net operating income because of access (more walkable properties).

Sidewalks are more for the public benefit and equity of providing all users with a safe route to get from place to place. In areas without sidewalks, pedestrians are not a priority and are discouraged from walking there. Additionally, safety is a big concern because when vehicles are driving down the street, the person must move out of the way but may not have a safe place to move to.

Providing sidewalks will often result in the use of them because they provide a perception of safety for users. People gravitate towards areas with sidewalks because of this perception. Despite common arguments for not wanting sidewalks, the added benefit of them greatly outweighs the arguments and creates a more livable community. To learn more about common misconceptions about sidewalks, please click here.

Cost

Low-cost

It should be noted that sidewalks are more expensive to install as a standalone project as opposed to included with a road construction project that is larger in scale. Projects can be combined into one large one too which can work in conjunction with other jurisdictions or localities and prices will decrease.