Sidewalks help to build community

Runner on sidewalk around park

What a wonderful thing sidewalks are.  They allow pedestrians to walk or run safely, without fear of being run over by cars and trucks. They also give kids a safe place to develop their bike riding skills, seniors a location for a leisurely stroll, all the while providing neighbors and community members a common ground on which to interact, face to face.

An article, "Thinking pedestrian thoughts", in the StarTribune, noted how the suburb of Edina has concluded sidewalks contribute to their goal of healthy living, neighborhood connectedness and livability.   

Minneapolis is a national leader of pedestrian friendly planning.  The city has a permanent citizen advisory committee that provides response to street reconstruction and planning from the perspective of pedestrians.  Minneapolis is also one of the top cities in the U.S. relative to people who walk to work, with 6.4% of residents walking to their work places.