The FHNA Board at its February 4th meeting adopted the following policy supporting pedestrian mobility:

“The Fair Heights Neighborhood Association supports safe pedestrian mobility for the purposes of the health, safety, and welfare of all residents. To promote those purposes, our sidewalks, which legally are public access right-of-ways, should be kept free of blockages from vehicles, recreational equipment, and other impediments.”

There are many advantages to having an environment where residents enjoy getting out and walking around the neighborhood safely on sidewalks. For one thing, it is a deterrent to crime to have many eyes out and about. Of course, it creates a sense of neighborliness also, with folks greeting one another and sometimes chatting. And walking promotes the health of our residents through good exercise.

Impediments which discourage sidewalk use include snow and ice, overgrown hedges or tree limbs, basketball backstops left for weeks, and vehicles parked in driveways with the back end overhanging the sidewalk. Residents may be forced out into the street by these blockages. If a speeding vehicle or impaired driver appeared suddenly, these folks might not be able to move fast enough to get up on the sidewalk and out of the way.

The City continues to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in trying to make our sidewalks accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The tapered sidewalks at intersection corners and the more gently sloped driveway sides created with these monies benefit everyone. Especially benefited are the elderly, mothers with strollers, and anyone who doesn’t feel safe walking in the street. Here in the FHNA, we do have several persons confined to motorized wheelchairs, and some visually impaired individuals, also.

There are many good, obvious reasons to keep sidewalks open and free for pedestrian mobility. As the weather warms up, folks will be walking more. Thanks for your help in keeping our neighborhood walkable.