I have recently had more time on my hands and have started to walk around my neighborhood and am amazed at the conditions of our streets and sidewalks. Granted my neighborhood may not be like others in the city, but I first noticed it as I had to maneuver around bulging sidewalks, due to the tree roots from trees planted years ago. They are forcing the sidewalks to be distorted and are major trip hazards.
In one of my most recent walks waiting at the intersection of Riverside Ave. and Middlesex Ave. (pictures above), for the lights to change I noticed the NON-existing crosswalks. The streets at this intersection are a mess of holes and dips as the streets intersect and watching the cars making their way around banging and pitching loose stone in my direction had me thinking that if it was raining standing to close would have the cars splashing me and also thinking who is responsible for this neglect.
I continued my walk taking additional pictures, when I came to another intersection just a half block down on Riverside Ave. that intersects with Bradbury Ave. only to be amazed to find the same thing. I watched the crossing guard stop traffic for the children to cross on their way to school, again thinking, who is responsible, has this been reported, does the city know of these issues?
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These two intersections are just a small example of the disrepair of our neighborhood sidewalks and streets. Our children and elderly walk these routes daily and I wonder if the city has been informed and do they choose not to repair, or that these repairs are on a very large list of neglect that our new mayor has the city departments working on. As a tax payer in this city for 40+ years, I would hope that the later is what is in store for the repairs and as the good weather is here, the city will have an opportunity to start much needed work throughout the city. I would hate to see our tax dollars be used instead to settle a legal suit for someone injured while on a quiet stroll around their neighborhood that trips and becomes seriously injured.
