Sidewalks, mobility, and connected communities

Our sidewalks need a revitalization plan. With a growing awareness of the benefits of walking both to promote health and reduce carbon emissions, we should be doing everything we can to encourage people to use their feet as much as possible.

Saanich has acres of sidewalks, but many of them are deteriorating and wearing out. They are not being properly upgraded or replaced. In some cases, the poorly maintained sidewalks have become a hazard and in many cases there is no sidewalk at all. I have often found myself navigating a worn footpath in a place where there should obviously be a sidewalk.

Saanich has a schedule of sidewalk maintenance and replacement, but the number of projects far exceeds the annual budget allocation. It is time for a revitalization plan that would see a larger portion of funding dedicated to our pedestrian environments to address the aging infrastructure. We simply cannot afford to neglect our walking corridors.

Proper sidewalks allow people to do more than travel from one place to another. They foster a sense of community. When we venture out on foot we meet our neighbours and experience the natural beauty that our community has to offer. Walking also reduces our greenhouse gas emissions. We are much more likely to walk to the grocery store, or just take an evening stroll, if we have a safe and pleasant surface on which to walk.

Our population is aging, and many seniors who cannot safely negotiate worn footpaths would be glad of the opportunity to walk on proper sidewalks.

Finally, pedestrian infrastructure provides much needed traffic calming. Studies have proven that routes with sidewalks, bike lanes, and natural vegetation affect the speed at which drivers travel. They show commuters that our streets are not arterial highways, but the veins of life of our neighbourhoods.

It is time for Saanich to re-invest in sidewalks. It is an investment in more than just concrete and asphalt. It is about healthier communities, climate protection, the environment, safety, and mobility.

Saanich is a great place to live. Let’s give people the opportunity to get out there and enjoy it.