Utah has passed a “free-range parenting” bill that frees parents from hovering over their children. Some people thinks this is terrible and irresponsible.
See https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/controversial-free-range-parenting-now-legal-utah-heres-means-203114763.html.
Thanks goodness I was a free-range kid from the time I was six (1944). I walked to school by myself. I walked to playgrounds myself. I went to the movies with my younger brother. And when I had a bicycle I rode many places far from home.
Showing posts with label walking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label walking. Show all posts
Friday, March 23, 2018
Sunday, January 29, 2017
What I Like in a City
Originally published in the Northland Reader now the Reader Weekly, March 16, 2000
As a newcomer to Duluth, I’m not quite familiar with all the plans for changes to Duluth, for example Vision 2001, but I appreciate many of the things Duluth offers and hope to see these features improved.
Duluth offers some transportation choices that makes a city great and to human scale. Namely, if one is so inclined, one can easily choose to go by foot, bus, or car, in that order.
These choices are not easy everywhere in Duluth, but in Chester Park where I live, I have used all three choices to reach UMD, Mt. Royal, Kenwood, the lake, and even downtown. I much prefer to walk unless time is a factor.
Walking not only provides exercise and fresh air, but it gives me time to observe and experience an area. Walking by parks, houses, and shops, there is much to see that is only a blur when seen from a vehicle.
Taking the bus is a second choice if time is short or the weather is bad. Walking downtown is good exercise but only if I want to spend an hour or more doing so. With a bus, I can be downtown in one-quarter that time. Taking the bus provides conveniences that many don’t consider. First of all, I don’t need to worry about parking. Secondly, even if parking is easily available, a bus may get me closer to the door.
Taking a car is a third choice if time is important, if I have a lot to carry, or if the bus doesn’t go to my destination. Time can be important in two ways. It can take longer to do an errand or the buses aren’t running at that time of day. I often drive downtown for evening events because they might run past the last bus or because I might just miss an hourly bus. I take a bus to church downtown but my wife has to drive; choir practice starts before the buses do.
I do have a historical bias for this opinion. I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio (not one of its suburbs). I walked to school until I was in high school, then I took three buses. The buses were frequent enough that I never had to worry about how late practice lasted. Even when I started college I took a bus and a rapid transit train. We did most of our shopping in walking distance of our home; otherwise we hopped a streetcar to go downtown.
Since then I have lived in Minneapolis, Rome, Stockholm, exurban Philadelphia, and exurban Minneapolis, I have had extended stays in New York, London, Paris, Helsinki, and Basel, and I have visited many other cities from Leningrad to Los Angeles to Osaka. (What’s “exurban”? So far out from the center that there are no sidewalks.) Many of them offered both walking and public transportation opportunities. In fact, those I enjoyed the most were those that had vibrant centers where people walked, shopped, wined, and dined until late in the evening. New York, Rome, Paris, Stockholm, Osaka, and Tokyo are full of lights and activity well past a Midwesterner’s bedtime. Their centers are accessible until midnight or beyond. But my favorite was Basel, Switzerland.
Most of the time that I was in Basel I worked evenings. I could either walk or take a streetcar from my hotel to the customer site and back. Streetcars ran until one in the morning. If I walked, it was not past monolithic buildings and parking lots but past parks and shops with interesting displays in their windows. Within walking distance of the hotel were dozens of restaurants, a couple of grocery stores, many, many shops, an outdoor swimming pool, several parks, and the zoo.
I don’t think Basel was designed; too many of the streets intersect at other than a right angle. I think Swiss efficiency made the best of the situation over the centuries.
Duluth will never be like Basel for a variety of reasons and many of us would not want that. But in our vision for Duluth, we can adapt some of the elements that made Basel interesting.
First, we should make existing sidewalks more user friendly. We could encourage homeowners to cut back overhanging branches and keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice. We could ticket cars that are parked across crosswalks or even in drives but over the sidewalk.
Second, we should have a more aggressive program for sidewalk replacement or repair. We should also examine funding; is it fair to make a homeowner pay for a sidewalk?
Third, we should keep streets drier by repairing potholes and low spots. Why should a pedestrian have to run past a puddle, like on Woodland south of Mt. Royal?
Fourth, we should have more frequent buses and more coverage. Should our only ways to get to the DECC be by driving, walking over a freeway bridge, or walking a long, monochromatic skyway? We should have shuttle buses from DECC to downtown at event times, including Omnimax. We have no skyway to Canal Park but bus service is limited to daylight hours. We should be able to go by bus on a Saturday night to a downtown restaurant or theater.
Fifth, we should plan new development based on how people will get there. Should people have to walk across a windy, dusty parking lot dodging drivers more concerned about looking for a parking space? Should buses have to go in and out of parking lots so that passengers need not walk across said parking lots?
Sixth, we should consider more mixed use like that which some people would like to see on Fourth St. E. between Fifth and Sixth Avenues; that is, shops at street level, residences and professional offices above.
In other words, let’s remember that cars are only a means, not an end. Let’s design for people, not just one of their means.
As a newcomer to Duluth, I’m not quite familiar with all the plans for changes to Duluth, for example Vision 2001, but I appreciate many of the things Duluth offers and hope to see these features improved.
Duluth offers some transportation choices that makes a city great and to human scale. Namely, if one is so inclined, one can easily choose to go by foot, bus, or car, in that order.
These choices are not easy everywhere in Duluth, but in Chester Park where I live, I have used all three choices to reach UMD, Mt. Royal, Kenwood, the lake, and even downtown. I much prefer to walk unless time is a factor.
Walking not only provides exercise and fresh air, but it gives me time to observe and experience an area. Walking by parks, houses, and shops, there is much to see that is only a blur when seen from a vehicle.
Taking the bus is a second choice if time is short or the weather is bad. Walking downtown is good exercise but only if I want to spend an hour or more doing so. With a bus, I can be downtown in one-quarter that time. Taking the bus provides conveniences that many don’t consider. First of all, I don’t need to worry about parking. Secondly, even if parking is easily available, a bus may get me closer to the door.
Taking a car is a third choice if time is important, if I have a lot to carry, or if the bus doesn’t go to my destination. Time can be important in two ways. It can take longer to do an errand or the buses aren’t running at that time of day. I often drive downtown for evening events because they might run past the last bus or because I might just miss an hourly bus. I take a bus to church downtown but my wife has to drive; choir practice starts before the buses do.
I do have a historical bias for this opinion. I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio (not one of its suburbs). I walked to school until I was in high school, then I took three buses. The buses were frequent enough that I never had to worry about how late practice lasted. Even when I started college I took a bus and a rapid transit train. We did most of our shopping in walking distance of our home; otherwise we hopped a streetcar to go downtown.
Since then I have lived in Minneapolis, Rome, Stockholm, exurban Philadelphia, and exurban Minneapolis, I have had extended stays in New York, London, Paris, Helsinki, and Basel, and I have visited many other cities from Leningrad to Los Angeles to Osaka. (What’s “exurban”? So far out from the center that there are no sidewalks.) Many of them offered both walking and public transportation opportunities. In fact, those I enjoyed the most were those that had vibrant centers where people walked, shopped, wined, and dined until late in the evening. New York, Rome, Paris, Stockholm, Osaka, and Tokyo are full of lights and activity well past a Midwesterner’s bedtime. Their centers are accessible until midnight or beyond. But my favorite was Basel, Switzerland.
Most of the time that I was in Basel I worked evenings. I could either walk or take a streetcar from my hotel to the customer site and back. Streetcars ran until one in the morning. If I walked, it was not past monolithic buildings and parking lots but past parks and shops with interesting displays in their windows. Within walking distance of the hotel were dozens of restaurants, a couple of grocery stores, many, many shops, an outdoor swimming pool, several parks, and the zoo.
I don’t think Basel was designed; too many of the streets intersect at other than a right angle. I think Swiss efficiency made the best of the situation over the centuries.
Duluth will never be like Basel for a variety of reasons and many of us would not want that. But in our vision for Duluth, we can adapt some of the elements that made Basel interesting.
First, we should make existing sidewalks more user friendly. We could encourage homeowners to cut back overhanging branches and keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice. We could ticket cars that are parked across crosswalks or even in drives but over the sidewalk.
Second, we should have a more aggressive program for sidewalk replacement or repair. We should also examine funding; is it fair to make a homeowner pay for a sidewalk?
Third, we should keep streets drier by repairing potholes and low spots. Why should a pedestrian have to run past a puddle, like on Woodland south of Mt. Royal?
Fourth, we should have more frequent buses and more coverage. Should our only ways to get to the DECC be by driving, walking over a freeway bridge, or walking a long, monochromatic skyway? We should have shuttle buses from DECC to downtown at event times, including Omnimax. We have no skyway to Canal Park but bus service is limited to daylight hours. We should be able to go by bus on a Saturday night to a downtown restaurant or theater.
Fifth, we should plan new development based on how people will get there. Should people have to walk across a windy, dusty parking lot dodging drivers more concerned about looking for a parking space? Should buses have to go in and out of parking lots so that passengers need not walk across said parking lots?
Sixth, we should consider more mixed use like that which some people would like to see on Fourth St. E. between Fifth and Sixth Avenues; that is, shops at street level, residences and professional offices above.
In other words, let’s remember that cars are only a means, not an end. Let’s design for people, not just one of their means.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Pondering while wandering led to floundering
As I returned from a University for Seniors class this morning at UMD, walking on snow-packed and icy sidewalks, I thought of how parental advice can be problematic in these situations: "Stand up straight" and "Watch where you're walking!"
If you stand up straight, by looking farther ahead, you might not see a slippery spot at your feet.
If you watch where you're walking, you'll get a sore back and might walk into an overhanging tree branch or protruding shrubbery.
As I pondered these profound thoughts, I stepped off a curb at an alley, my boot skidded on some ice, and I went down on one knee and then to one forearm. I didn't damage anything, but I soaked a knee of my jeans and my gloves.
Nobody saw me that I know of. I picked myself up and continued the couple hundred feet to my house without any soreness.
I don't remember which advice I was following - "Stand up straight" or "watch where you're walking!" Whatever, one of them didn't serve me well.
If you stand up straight, by looking farther ahead, you might not see a slippery spot at your feet.
If you watch where you're walking, you'll get a sore back and might walk into an overhanging tree branch or protruding shrubbery.
As I pondered these profound thoughts, I stepped off a curb at an alley, my boot skidded on some ice, and I went down on one knee and then to one forearm. I didn't damage anything, but I soaked a knee of my jeans and my gloves.
Nobody saw me that I know of. I picked myself up and continued the couple hundred feet to my house without any soreness.
I don't remember which advice I was following - "Stand up straight" or "watch where you're walking!" Whatever, one of them didn't serve me well.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Limp or wimp?
Today I decided to make my traditional triangle walk to Bixby's for coffee, UMD for University of Seniors, and back home. I have been driving to Bixby's because with all the unshoveled walks, walking has been no fun. However, parking at UMD is no fun during the day.
Because the city of Duluth has partially cleared many walks with a large snowblower, I've been able to stride instead of mince. Even though it was snowing lightly, off I strode.
Our street wasn't so bad. Then I got to the first traffic light. The pedestrian button was unreachable without climbing a thigh-high pile of snow - an icy pile with few footholds. I got up high enough to push the button, but when I turned around to come down, things looked almost impossible. I kind of leapt down from depression to depression but my momentum carried me right into the street. Fortunately for me, no cars were whipping around the corner.
I stood at the corner waiting for the light to change, but guess what? There was no traffic! Do I cross now or wait? I waited.
The rest of the walk to the coffee shop was uneventful. Some parts of the sidewalk were even, some had deeper snow, none too difficult to walk in the 8-inch work boots I had on.
After coffee I went to UMD for a couple of classes. When I got to the campus, the walks were freshly brushed with only a dusting of snow. There were some icy patches at the edge, but I could walk normally.
While I was in the classes there was light snow. I wondered if I wanted to take a bus home or walk. As I told a friend, it was a question of limp or wimp - limp on uneven sidewalks or wimp out by taking the bus. I opted to limp.
Again, the campus walks were no problem at all. As soon as I crossed into a neighborhood, the situation deteriorated. The first couple of blocks had wide boulevards and plow snow had not made it to the sidewalk. But few had shoveled their walks in the last couple of weeks.
When I turned onto the thoroughfare, things got worse. The city's snowblower had come by, but a plow had been by again, putting snow and "rocks" on the sidewalk.
Now walking became mincing.
Just after I took the picture and stepped off the curb at the corner, a car turned right in front of me! What nerve! What luck! It was my wife who was coming home from her own activities. I only had about three minutes walk to get home, but I was glad for the relief.
She wended her way through the neighborhood to our alley, and just as she was pulling in the garage, I saw the bus coming down the hill. I would rather have ridden with her than with a bunch of strangers.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Duluth Digs: Hope for shoveled walks??
Email to Don Ness, Mayor of Duluth, on Duluth Digs, an initiative to "encourage people to do a little more to keep sidewalks clear."
As you know from some of my Reader Weekly articles on walking in Duluth, I'm all for keeping sidewalks clear for pedestrians. I applaud you and Duluth Digs for attempting to make Duluth a more walkable city, but I'm pessimistic it's going to happen for two reasons.
First, wherever there is a narrow boulevard, which is anything less than four feet, snow plows are going to dump a huge amount of snow on the sidewalks. This snow is not the light, fluffy, new-fallen snow, but heavy wet gunk. It is not easy to lift. Because of this, many people don't even attempt to shovel their walks.
We were away during one of the big snows last winter. When we came back our sidewalk was covered with three feet of ice and snow. It was even hopeless to do with a snowblower. It was many days before a crew was able to get to our block to clear this.
Second, the mandated sump pumps are putting a lot of ice on the sidewalks. With the many rains, the ground was saturated and the pump water continued on to the sidewalks. When the temperature dropped, the standing water became ice. I did sand it, but given its unevenness, it was no fun to walk on.
I don't know how many hours spread over many days I've spent chipping at this ice, some of it two inches thick. Only today did I manage to have a strip less than two feet wide along our portion of the sidewalk.
I have just about given up walking in Duluth in the winter or after dark. In winter because the uneven surfaces lead to various muscle problems; after dark because of all the overhanging branches and protruding shrubbery.
I know in your heart you would like to follow in the footsteps of a former mayor of Eden Prairie. When asked why her city was successful in attracting businesses, she responded that they made Eden Prairie a nice place to live. Sadly, doing so today is considered a cost rather than an investment in a benefit.
References:
"Talking about walking about", http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2001-10-25.html
"In-Your-Face while Walking", http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2004-10-21.htm
"Save energy! Encourage Walking!" http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2007-12-06.html
"Save energy! Promote Walking!" http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/save_energy_2008-05-08.html
As you know from some of my Reader Weekly articles on walking in Duluth, I'm all for keeping sidewalks clear for pedestrians. I applaud you and Duluth Digs for attempting to make Duluth a more walkable city, but I'm pessimistic it's going to happen for two reasons.
First, wherever there is a narrow boulevard, which is anything less than four feet, snow plows are going to dump a huge amount of snow on the sidewalks. This snow is not the light, fluffy, new-fallen snow, but heavy wet gunk. It is not easy to lift. Because of this, many people don't even attempt to shovel their walks.
We were away during one of the big snows last winter. When we came back our sidewalk was covered with three feet of ice and snow. It was even hopeless to do with a snowblower. It was many days before a crew was able to get to our block to clear this.
Second, the mandated sump pumps are putting a lot of ice on the sidewalks. With the many rains, the ground was saturated and the pump water continued on to the sidewalks. When the temperature dropped, the standing water became ice. I did sand it, but given its unevenness, it was no fun to walk on.
I don't know how many hours spread over many days I've spent chipping at this ice, some of it two inches thick. Only today did I manage to have a strip less than two feet wide along our portion of the sidewalk.
I have just about given up walking in Duluth in the winter or after dark. In winter because the uneven surfaces lead to various muscle problems; after dark because of all the overhanging branches and protruding shrubbery.
I know in your heart you would like to follow in the footsteps of a former mayor of Eden Prairie. When asked why her city was successful in attracting businesses, she responded that they made Eden Prairie a nice place to live. Sadly, doing so today is considered a cost rather than an investment in a benefit.
References:
"Talking about walking about", http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2001-10-25.html
"In-Your-Face while Walking", http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2004-10-21.htm
"Save energy! Encourage Walking!" http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2007-12-06.html
"Save energy! Promote Walking!" http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/save_energy_2008-05-08.html
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Two entries - better late than never
I've had two blog entries in my head since April, but I never found a round tuit to write them. Even though they may not be timely, you might find them interesting.
An April Fool's joke
On 1 April my wife was standing in the kitchen after breakfast musing about something. I said, "Your shoes are untied." She looked down at her slip-ons and said, "Oh, that's a good one!"
Who am I to complain?
For years when it's not ski season, I've gone downtown for coffee, then to the library, and then maybe to lunch.
At first, I went to a coffee shop owned by some friends. When they retired, I went to a coffee shop nearby instead. Besides the good coffee, I appreciated the classical music from public radio.
Then government budget cuts hit the library and it was no longer open on Monday mornings. So, I went to the fitness center instead. Maybe afterward I would walk to the library.
This spring when the ski slope closed, I went back to the coffee shop. Instead of classical music on public radio there was pop music on commercial radio. I mentioned it to a barista; he said the owner changed the station because some of the regulars complained that the classical music put them to sleep. They came to the coffee shop to wake up.
The pop music was not overly loud but the commercials were and set my teeth on edge. I never went back.
Who am I to complain? I went there once a week for nine months of the year. The regulars were there every weekday twelve months a year.
I went to another nearby coffee shop twice but the coffee was so weak that I decided not to go back.
I could have gone to another coffee shop (locally owned) but it was farther from the bus stop and over a windy bridge.
So, I've stopped going downtown on a regular basis altogether. Maybe I'm saving money but I miss dropping in on a few shopkeepers. And I've stopped reading the variety of magazines at the library.
The real downside is I've stopped walking so much. It has to be a nice day with no special errands for me to walk the mile to a local coffee shop twice a week.
"I took the [road] less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost
An April Fool's joke
On 1 April my wife was standing in the kitchen after breakfast musing about something. I said, "Your shoes are untied." She looked down at her slip-ons and said, "Oh, that's a good one!"
Who am I to complain?
For years when it's not ski season, I've gone downtown for coffee, then to the library, and then maybe to lunch.
At first, I went to a coffee shop owned by some friends. When they retired, I went to a coffee shop nearby instead. Besides the good coffee, I appreciated the classical music from public radio.
Then government budget cuts hit the library and it was no longer open on Monday mornings. So, I went to the fitness center instead. Maybe afterward I would walk to the library.
This spring when the ski slope closed, I went back to the coffee shop. Instead of classical music on public radio there was pop music on commercial radio. I mentioned it to a barista; he said the owner changed the station because some of the regulars complained that the classical music put them to sleep. They came to the coffee shop to wake up.
The pop music was not overly loud but the commercials were and set my teeth on edge. I never went back.
Who am I to complain? I went there once a week for nine months of the year. The regulars were there every weekday twelve months a year.
I went to another nearby coffee shop twice but the coffee was so weak that I decided not to go back.
I could have gone to another coffee shop (locally owned) but it was farther from the bus stop and over a windy bridge.
So, I've stopped going downtown on a regular basis altogether. Maybe I'm saving money but I miss dropping in on a few shopkeepers. And I've stopped reading the variety of magazines at the library.
The real downside is I've stopped walking so much. It has to be a nice day with no special errands for me to walk the mile to a local coffee shop twice a week.
"I took the [road] less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." - Robert Frost
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Snow removal done in the wrong order by the wrong people
The cities and counties clear the roads as fast as they can. In fact, because we want efficiency, they go so fast that packed snow gets thrown on the sidewalks. It is now the property owners responsibility to remove this snow within 24-48 hours.
Some property owners get out promptly, often after removing the natural snowfall. Some property owners are not strong enough to do it at all. And some property owners don't even think about shoveling snow or downright refuse to do so. "The city put it there; let them remove it."
Meanwhile, the poor pedestrian is left to slog through this mess, sometimes with threat to life and limb. Some pedestrians walk in the street, putting both themselves and drivers at risk. Oh yes, don't forget the brave or foolhardy runners who are out everyday no matter the conditions.
In the interest of energy conservation, maybe we should reverse the responsibility. The city should be responsible for clearing the sidewalks of snow, and the property owners should be responsible for clearing the streets of snow.
This would discourage people from driving and encourage more walking and bus ridership.
It would also reduce taxes. Less expensive equipment and operators would be needed to clear sidewalks than to clear roads.
Some property owners get out promptly, often after removing the natural snowfall. Some property owners are not strong enough to do it at all. And some property owners don't even think about shoveling snow or downright refuse to do so. "The city put it there; let them remove it."
Meanwhile, the poor pedestrian is left to slog through this mess, sometimes with threat to life and limb. Some pedestrians walk in the street, putting both themselves and drivers at risk. Oh yes, don't forget the brave or foolhardy runners who are out everyday no matter the conditions.
In the interest of energy conservation, maybe we should reverse the responsibility. The city should be responsible for clearing the sidewalks of snow, and the property owners should be responsible for clearing the streets of snow.
This would discourage people from driving and encourage more walking and bus ridership.
It would also reduce taxes. Less expensive equipment and operators would be needed to clear sidewalks than to clear roads.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Livability of cities
I sent the following email to a Duluth city councillor who is proposing an amendment to the city's tall grass and rubbish ordinance. I doubt whether the amendment will do any good considering how little money Duluth or any other city has for enforcement.
I appreciate your concern about the livability of Duluth, but as a walker, I wonder if your amendment to the rubbish and tall grass ordinance will have much effect.
Laws and ordinances have three purposes:
to provide guidance to people of good faith (yellow lines to divide streets)
to punish people of bad faith after the fact (burglary laws and so forth)
to make legislators feel good (flag burning amendments)
Given the current financial support of government by citizens, I would say the mowing ordinance comes more under purpose 3 then purpose 2.
My grounds for saying this are the effectiveness of the snow shoveling ordinance and the snow shoveling hot line. It’s not that city employees are not responding to requests in a timely fashion; they do as I recently found out about shrubbery blocking a sidewalk. The problem is that it is rare for citizens to call in about obvious problems.
For example, dozens of students walk to UMD or Woodland Middle School, but often over half of the sidewalks on 19th Ave, E. 8th St., Woodland Ave., or St. Marie St. are not shoveled in a timely fashion after a snow storm. I doubt many students bother calling the snow shoveling hot line.
I could call in dozens of properties in this same area that have shrubbery blocking half or more of the sidewalk or trees hanging over the sidewalk at eye level. Surprise, on Garden St with all of its nice yards or city trees on one of the avenues either side of Lake Ave. just north of Superior St. But, like many people, I’m reluctant to make a “nuisance of myself” or even spend the time calling in with sufficient details for action.
I’m sure that city can’t afford to have a “walkability patrol” when it can’t afford enough police to strictly enforce the speed limits on Arrowhead Road, Snively, or Woodland Ave.
I wrote an article on walkability for the Reader Weekly three years ago:
In any case, thanks for your concern about the livability of Duluth. I wish I could feel confident that your efforts will make a difference.
I appreciate your concern about the livability of Duluth, but as a walker, I wonder if your amendment to the rubbish and tall grass ordinance will have much effect.
Laws and ordinances have three purposes:
to provide guidance to people of good faith (yellow lines to divide streets)
to punish people of bad faith after the fact (burglary laws and so forth)
to make legislators feel good (flag burning amendments)
Given the current financial support of government by citizens, I would say the mowing ordinance comes more under purpose 3 then purpose 2.
My grounds for saying this are the effectiveness of the snow shoveling ordinance and the snow shoveling hot line. It’s not that city employees are not responding to requests in a timely fashion; they do as I recently found out about shrubbery blocking a sidewalk. The problem is that it is rare for citizens to call in about obvious problems.
For example, dozens of students walk to UMD or Woodland Middle School, but often over half of the sidewalks on 19th Ave, E. 8th St., Woodland Ave., or St. Marie St. are not shoveled in a timely fashion after a snow storm. I doubt many students bother calling the snow shoveling hot line.
I could call in dozens of properties in this same area that have shrubbery blocking half or more of the sidewalk or trees hanging over the sidewalk at eye level. Surprise, on Garden St with all of its nice yards or city trees on one of the avenues either side of Lake Ave. just north of Superior St. But, like many people, I’m reluctant to make a “nuisance of myself” or even spend the time calling in with sufficient details for action.
I’m sure that city can’t afford to have a “walkability patrol” when it can’t afford enough police to strictly enforce the speed limits on Arrowhead Road, Snively, or Woodland Ave.
I wrote an article on walkability for the Reader Weekly three years ago:
http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2004-10-21.htmMany of these problems still exist.
In any case, thanks for your concern about the livability of Duluth. I wish I could feel confident that your efforts will make a difference.
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