Brick Sidewalks Are Dangerous for Walkers

These images of bricks are not from Cambridge but do indicate some of the problems. 



This letter is written by a PR flack, without identifying her client. (Diane Beck, LETTER: "Reverse the degradation of our sidewalks in Cambridge, " Cambridge Chronicle, May 25, 2013) Is it the National Bricklayer's Association which sent a letter to the City Council arguing for continuing brick sidewalks? The arguments in this letter do not make sense. Brick sidewalks are aesthetically pleasing. But they are dangerous and make the lives of persons who use wheelchairs unpleasant. Moving along a brick sidewalk makes the chair bump along disturbing the person's organs. It is not healthy. For women who use strollers it is a dangerous passage. Many young mothers use the streets. Mail carriers hate the brick side walks as do the parking enforcement officers who have to walk on them. Lovers of bricks are not city walkers. I walk almost everywhere. I hate the bricks. Missing bricks make for potential broken bones. Uneven bricks make for a difficult pull for groceries on a wagon or when pulling suitcases. If you only walk to your car you will not have any trouble on brick sidewalks. For the walkers of the city they are an abomination and more difficult to maintain than concrete.  But where diversity does not matter it is enforced allowing residents to decide how they want their sidewalks in front of their property. Diversity of ideas is verboten in Cambridge.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1039446798/LETTER-Reverse-the-degradation-of-our-sidewalks-in-Cambridge

LETTER: Reverse the degradation of our sidewalks in Cambridge
Cambridge Chronicle
Posted May 25, 2013 @ 08:28 AM
Diane Beck, Highland Avenue