"Sidewalk Talk"
I hear sidewalks talked about a lot in New Berlin. There are those who state they are not needed or wanted. There are those who wouldn't mind having them but don't want our city to incur the financial impact of them. And there are those who just want and need to be able to walk down the street safely. Personally, when I drive down a street like Brookland, near Lions Park, and observe ditches on both sides, cars legally parked on both sides, and only room enough for one lane of traffic, I worry for the families whose members are at risk while walking along such a street.
I know that sidewalks cost money. I know that money does not grow on trees. But I also know you can judge things like schools, cities, and even nations based on how they treat their most needful students, residents, and citizens.
I want to tell you about a man I have never met. I don't even know his name. But I see him often during my drive to work in the morning. He is an older gentleman, well dressed, and his lurching gait suggests he has what appears to be a prosthetic leg. I see him walking along Sunnyslope Road in Brookfield, north of Greenfield. I'm guessing he walks for the exercise and activity and I don't know if he is walking to work, walking to someone's house, or walking just an old fashioned walk. I just know that he walks along a busy road that does not have sidewalks. Many times, I have seen this man just stop and stand still while waiting for the traffic to thin out. I feel badly for him--he clearly must exert great caution on his morning walk because of his inability to move quickly on a slanted, narrow, and crumbled path.
That's about to change. Brookfield is in the process of building sidewalks along Sunnyslope between Greenfield and Bluemound. I don't pretend to know if the leaders who signed off this project have ever seen what I've seen. I like to think they have. More importantly, I like to think that in the future, this man I have never met can walk down the streets of New Berlin with the same comfort he soon will be able to just a few miles up the road.
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I've seen the walk that's in progress and other walks they have done. The off the road style with it's slight curves actually creates a real positive look along with the benefit it provides. It almost creates a park trail atmosphere. It's too bad New Berlin has not done this along Moorland Rd, especially when the road was redone a few years ago. Maybe they could still do it ? We need a lot more of this along our busy roads.
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Keith:
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Back to tophad to comment - Oct 11, 2009 11:04 PM - Report Abuse
Ray McInerny - Oct 10, 2009 8:57 AM - Report Abuse
Sidewalks raise the ire of many who don't want to lose the flavor of country. As happens so often when we all wish the same thing and move West the boundaries of civilization (if that's the proper term) are extended as well.
It would be perfect to have all sides satisfied however that won't happen very soon. I suppose a judicious use of sidewalks, paths, bike paths, turn-arounds and stop lighted intersections might please most of us and that's the goal, I imagine, of those who run government bodies. Let's hope so.
In the meantime caution may be the phrase for all of us to use and abide by as we drive through cities.
Good post!