Sidewalks That Look Good But Don’t Function Well
I spent a good portion of Saturday with the grand kids. No, not mine, a friend’s. But that required a trip to St Charles County. I’m not fond of driving West of Kingshighway so you have to appreciate how adorable these kids are to get me out there.
Coming back to their house after lunch I snapped the above picture. Many places don’t even have sidewalks and those that do, like the above example, just line the road and don’t actually connect to anything. We passed a Wal-Mart (how predictable, right?) and I was pleasantly shocked to see the sidewalk connecting to the entrance – a proper ADA access route.
But for the most part the sidewalks just seem like decoration. Something to give the illusion you could walk to a store. But it is just that, an illusion of walkable. As bad as newer development in the city is, St Charles is far worse.
I grew up in a 1960s area of Oklahoma City that is just as bad. My parents moved there for the same reason people moved to St Charles, schools. Except where I grew up I was in the same district as the inner city but on the edge in newer buildings. We had no sidewalks. You only walked when the car broke down. Why else would you walk?
Don’t worry, the grand kids are getting exposed to urban life where you walk to places. Where you run into friends on the sidewalks rather than the mall parking lot.
Much like religion, I think it is good to expose youngsters to different perspectives and allow them to draw their own conclusions when they get older.  Just like many kids of the 50s picked the suburbs, todays kids will pick the core when they make their own living choices. If I’m wrong let me know in 2030.
In the meantime if we go to the trouble to have sidewalks wouldn’t it be a good idea it they actually connected to places?
The worst part is that corner could be anywhere in America. When I first saw that picture I thought it was the Walgreen’s in Iowa City, IA! That sidewalk probably very rarely gets any use because the entire setup was designed for cars.
I remember when I lived in a small village in England outside London. It was so easy to get around because the small towns had buses that were easy to use and went everywhere. Between the towns and villages were trains that were easy to use and went everywhere. It was nice because I could walk to all the local establishments. It was the model of a walking environment in a nonurban setting. I recall walking the mile to the grocery store twice a week for fresh food. It was so nice to stroll through town on the endless sidewalks. However, I also recall having to cross a parking lot from the sidewalk to get into the grocer. No town is perfect. Just be thankful that unlike the ever growing Saint Chuck they at least have an extensive sidewalk in that area.
P.S. Ha ha, you hang out with a grandma.
At least they’re putting sidewalks in. As you pointed out, “We had no sidewalks. You only walked when the car broke down.” It’s a first step. In 20 or 30 years, when they redevelop (hopefully) at higher densities, the precedent and the infrastructure will be in place. In the meantime, it might encourage people to actually give walking or biking a try. No it won’t fix the “urban design” out there, but it beats the alternative of having no sidewalks at all . . .
As a suburbanite walker, I’d almost guarantee that any person walking to that Walgreens would have crossed more significant barriers (multiple lanes of traffic, lack of crosswalks, etc.) to get to that sidewalk than they would going from the above sidewalk into the store.
Steve, you need to write a post about people’s reaction when they see someone actually crossing a street corner. Hopefully, you’ll give me some satisfaction that the majority of metro stl folks do NOT live in the city.
Pick some random county folks, drive with them and then talk with them about their perception of folks crossing the street at a minor/major intersection where you see people walking on foot.
More likely than not, if they are honest, they would say: Dude doesn’t have a car or dude can’t afford a car or dude’s car is broken. Watch him/her closely and move on.
I’ve traveled extensively through Eastern Europe-St Pete, Moscow, Kiev, Odessa, Sophia, Budapest, etc and while all have a thriving metropropolis walking area, all of the people I’ve encountered wanted two things: A bigger flat and a car.
The poor live in villages just a scant twenty minute drive from the “city”. The reason it’s just a twenty minute drive is because there are no cars and because gas is so expensive. Still, the action is in the city and the city is the place to be. Nobody who had access to a car would live twenty minutes away from the city.
Steve, sorry to burst your bubble but in 2030, things will be much the same as in 1980-just 28 years ago on Washington Ave. There will be some improvement followed by a downslide followed by a building up followed by a downslide.
I’m encouraged though by the extensive bicycle trails in Illinois. While not an avid bicyclist, I can certainly see the benefits of bicycling if done so on a safe level.
FYI, I’m an optomist at heart. Even though I’m living in Wentzville, I still frequent the Stl area on a four day basis. I’m partial to the Dutchtown/S City area but get downtown fairly regularly.
I’ve said this before, but my main concern is safety. I’m well aware that the problems posed to me when stepping outside my Wentzville home to smoke a cigarette are vastly different than doing the same at a location in the city.
Steve, that is the fight you’re fighting. You’re fighting the fight against anybody who has had their car vandalized at a Cards game or a person who has felt “uncomfortible” while visiting Stl City or Downtown.
While Walmart had sidewalks (paid for by tif money no doubt) I bet the largest seller of bikes in America didn’t have bike racks.
When my parents frist moved to St. Charles County, I said St. Charles is not for poor people because there were no sidewalks. Now am with out a car and people look and keep stare at me as I walk down the street. I think most people without a car in St. Charles ride bikes. Most walmarts in St. Charles don’t have places to leave your bike. A few walgreens do
Steve,
I am in the design industry, specifically site/civil, and I have to take issue with this item. While a Walgreens on every corner is not my idea of development, I have to inform you that one of the criteria for a Walgreens site is a connecting sidewalk to adjacent walks in the public right of way. From the style of the building in the photo it is evident that it has been built in the not to distant past and I would bet that if you had taken a closer look you would find that sidewalk connection on the site. Of course I could be wrong in this instance, but I have first hand knowledge that most Walgreens of recent vintage will have an ADA accessable sidewalk connection to the public walks if they exist. Beyond that, I agree, in the most part, with your assessments of develpment in the metro area and surrounding counties.
Oh, and merry Christmas to you and your readers.
@ b,
I call BS that you get downtown “fairly regularly.” With such an implicit statement that downtown is dangerous, full of vandals, or what-have-you, the only way you could be getting downtown regularly, is if you define “regular” as once a decade. Give it up, man. The suburbs offer nothing that can’t be found downtown, except Walgreens, Walmart, and other such stores. And even then, it’s only a matter of time until those types of stores decide that there is enough capacity downtown to open a store. I live downtown, park inside, only need to walk a block to a nice grassy area to run with my dog, and my building has a rooftop pool and grill. And you won’t see me getting the “suburb belt” around my waist from choosing to sit in the car in order to travel half a mile, rather than simply walking.
Speaking of ADA compliance, you should attend this meeting tomorrow night:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON LOCATION AND DESIGN OF THE GRAND AVENUE VIADUCT REPLACEMENT PROJECT Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing will be held at St. Louis City Hall, Room 208, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis Missouri, on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009, at 6:00 o’clock p.m. Central Standard Time. Handicap access is available. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning their views on the location and design of Grand Avenue Viaduct Replacement Project with reference to the economic and social effects of such location and design, its impact of the environment and its consistency with the goals and objectives of the community. The presently contemplated improvement is as follows: The City of St. Louis is planning the replacement of the Grand Avenue Viaduct Bridge over Union Pacific Railroad and MetroLink located between I-64 and Chouteau Ave. The proposed bridge will have 4 – 12 ft. wide traffic lanes, 6 ft. wide, shared-use bicycle lanes and raised 12 ft. wide sidewalks. In addition the bridge will feature widened bus turnout areas for use by MetroBus and MetroLink patrons in association with the Grand MetroLink Station. Maps, plats, environmental documentation, and other detailed information prepared by the City Board of Public Service will be available for public inspection and copying at the office of the President of Board of Public Service, City Hall, Room 325. Written statements and exhibits as well as oral statements will be received at the hearing. Written statements and exhibits will be made a part of the public hearing transcript if received within ten days after the date of the hearing. Tentative schedules for right of way acquisition and construction will be discussed at the hearing. If you are disabled and require special services at the public hearing, please notify David Newburger by January 2, 2009 at 314 622-3686 so that arrangements for those services can be made. CITY OF: St. Louis City Missouri BY:Marjorie Melton, P.E., President, Board of Public Service
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