In a Nov. 23 letter, the writer opines that sidewalks aren’t necessary on a two-mile stretch of First Street starting at 164th Avenue. Why? Because he’s never seen anyone using them.
First, just because he’s never seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. And second, how elitist! We should all own cars and never walk anywhere, right? This is not a rural area. As the population grows, sidewalks become a safety concern, while also increasing property values in this type of neighborhood.
This same mindset is used when you hear that more bus frequency isn’t needed, because they sometimes run empty. In order to attract riders, buses need to have a regular schedule that accommodates early starts and later returns. They have to appeal to the masses, and not just a select few. Much like how sidewalks are in fact necessary.
In short, just because you don’t use something doesn’t mean your neighbors also don’t.
