Many places like neighborhoods or the side of the road don’t have sidewalks. This is bad because sidewalks provide a space for people to walk their pets, get some movement, or just get from point A to point B. I hope to show you in this paper how not having a space to walk affects people of all ages negatively.
Some people are afraid to let their kids outside for fear of their safety. This is a valid worry, but it also adds to their problem. There is a phenomenon called “Eyes on the street”’ This is when people feel safer with other people. When more kids are playing outside and going on walks, parents feel like it is safer to let their kids outside because if something were to happen, people would see. But when there are no sidewalks, fewer parents feel safe letting their kids take walks and enjoy the outdoors, making people feel more worried because there are no people. That also means that no one is going outside anyways, they are less likely to do anything about the lack of sidewalks. Another obvious problem that comes with a lack of walking space is that people are more likely to be hit by cars. Making people more likely to drive instead of walking, adding more cars to the problem. This also means less exercise for people. As you can see, its just an all around bad thing (NJB).
As I said before, a lack of sidewalks causes more people to drive. So with more cars, more roads are built, but since there are more cars and less people walking, no sidewalks are built. A study done in 2017 showed a 1% drop in car accidents, but more citizens related deaths. That is pretty scary, especially for children who need to walk to school. They are at a higher risk of accidents just by trying to do something they probably don’t even want to do. So, what can we do to help (PS)?
Well, in places like the Netherlands, many children are outside playing. This means parents feel safe letting their kids outside, and that means more sidewalks because it shows that people will really use them (NJB). When we go to make sidewalks, we should look to add gentle slopes and brakes in the path for wheelchair users, reflective signs for safety, lights so drivers can see people walking at night, and crosswalks with long enough countdowns that anyone can get across without being hurt. And if you really want to make good sidewalks, trash cans and benches always benefit people. The benches especially help the elderly when they need a rest (PS).
Walking where I live means walking on the edge of the road, with one headphone in to hear the cars because if you aren’t careful you are not safe. Especially with a pet or sibling with you. This is what sidewalks are supposed to be for. For people to take a walk with a pet, or to get some exercise, or even just to go to a friend’s house. So, I hope with this paper, I have shown you all the sides to sidewalks, and how they are so important for everyone.
Works Cited
Not Just Bikes “Why We Won’t Raise Our Kids in Suburbia” (NJB)
Popular Science “The surprising politics of sidewalks” (PS)