Walking in street instead of sidewalk? Just curious (El Paso, Live Oak: apartment complex, to rent)

[ged_782]

Like traveler guy, I also live in an older neighborhood inside 410 and although there is a sidewalk on my street, it is the exception.

I went to a neighborhood meeting one time where someone questioned a city engineer as to why there are so few sidewalks in our area. The engineer said that San Antonio always had a requirement that sidewalks be installed by the owners of property when it is developed, but the requirement wasn't enforced until recent years. He also said that if a publicly-funded sidewalk project is later proposed for an already developed street, some property owners will oppose the sidewalk project usually because it would disrupt their landscaping or bring in an undesireable element (kids on skateboards or rollerblades w/associated noise, added pedestrian traffic, etc.)

Actually, many of the subdivisions that are now inside the San Antonio City Limits were outside the City when they were built-out. I don't think the City had enfocement powers in these cases.

[AnthonySA]

I live in the '09 area, we don't have sidewalks!

[the411]

Everyone here has made excellent points. How about having utility poles(overhead lights) stick out right in the middle of the sidewalks.

[twange]

Originally Posted by the411

Everyone here has made excellent points. How about having utility poles(overhead lights) stick out right in the middle of the sidewalks.

No doubt, that's just inexcusable. Once these cities get sued by someone who is disabled and in a wheelchair, then maybe they'll stop doing that.

Just lazy.

[luckygreeniii]

I always manage to pick a day to go out or a walk with the kids that is trash day. It is really hard to manuever a stroller around the cans so we just stick to the edge of the street.

[irishmom2]

I walk in the street because it's easier on my knees.

[Midorigreen]

I walk/run in the street because I have a double jogging stroller (WIDE) and there are often garbage cans or cars (partially in driveway and partially on sidewalk) blocking the sidewalks.

Also, it's much easier on the joints and your ankles (less slope). I always go against traffic so I can move out of the way if I see someone driving recklessly.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by twange

The fact that most towns and cities in Texas have these intermittent sidewalks(if at all) is really puzzling and infuriating to me. The lack of pedestrian infrastructure here just screams CARS MATTER MORE THAN PEOPLE! I was told by someone in the know that in the past, developers would occasionally throw in a bone and install a bit of sidewalk for the houses of which they were responsible. No real codes etc...It's pretty lousy.

Our neighborhood predates cars, but the sidewalks stink. Ok, so lately they're better since the city has finally decided to put in some sidewalks, but what sidewalks that existed were broken up and then suddenly stopped.

The new sidewalks are great and we use them all the time, but even they have their issues at times....we do make it a point to walk on the sidewalks when available, though, because I want my little one to learn she has to stay on the sidewalks at all times.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by luckygreeniii

I always manage to pick a day to go out or a walk with the kids that is trash day. It is really hard to manuever a stroller around the cans so we just stick to the edge of the street.

Ugh! Now that we have a sidewalk on one side of our corner house, we always put our cans and recycle bin OFF the sidewalk, in the grassy area, just for this reason.

Alas, I can't always guarantee where the trash collectors will leave them.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by twange

Texas isn't a real mecca for "share the road" driving behavior. Yea, bikes should ALWAYS defer to pedestrians. .

I went to college in Santa Barbara, a very bike-friendly campus and town (heavily used bike lanes through campus and town). When I first got there, bikers were supposed to yield to pedestrians. After a bunch of bike accidents where the cyclists fell off their bikes or created a pileup stopping for pedestrians crossing the bike lanes, they changed the rule. Pedestrians had to yield to cyclists. It made much more sense, given that pedestrians could stop and move over much easier than 100 cyclists could...

However it was always illegal to ride on sidewalks, and yes, you did get ticketed (also could be arrested for riding a bike while drunk)