Everyone is a pedestrian. We all need basic infrastructure in our cities to get around, on foot or in wheelchair.
Somehow we've forgotten this, and Waterloo Region has a lot of streets that aren't built for walking. They are missing basic infrastructure like sidewalks, and even when those are present, very often our streets lack safe crossing points for hundreds of metres at a time.
The good news is every level of government recognizes the need to complete our sidewalk network and make our region walkable. However, too often our municipal representatives back down from opportunities to improve walkability, as local interests push back.
The problem is that we all need a rich and complete sidewalk network, but the temptation for "Not In My Front Yard" is strong. We forget that the availability (and affordability) of a car in the driveway is never guaranteed to us, and an accident or life change can take it away in an instant.
Our local governments must take a firm stand in support of walkability, by introducing sidewalks where they are missing, strategically adding midblock crossings on long stretches of uninterrupted streets, and addressing intersections so that they are safer and more accommodating to pedestrians.
Furthermore, we can improve mobility and access for pedestrians city-wide by treating the snow clearing of sidewalks, and disruptions due to construction, with the same priority as our roads. With sidewalk snow clearing as a municipal service, and thoughtful temporary pathways through construction zones, the mobility of our elderly will no longer be limited by an irresponsible neighbour or a sign directing pedestrians to "use other sidewalk" they can't get to.
And finally, we can improve the long-term walkability in Waterloo Region with better land use policy. Designing our neighbourhoods for pedestrians, zoning for mixed use, and defining urban design guidelines that create welcoming, human-scale places are all important parts of securing a truly walkable future.
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