Sidewalk vote will test Council’s credibility
Urban County Council members, this is a test.
You and Mayor Jim Newberry have made a great start in the past two years toward making Lexington a more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city. The vision you have outlined is ambitious and progressive.
How you vote Thursday night on whether to proceed with the Tates Creek Road sidewalk project will tell the rest of Lexington whether you’re serious.
These long-overdue sidewalks would connect with existing sidewalks on either end of a 1.6-mile stretch of Tates Creek Road, which runs from Dove Run Road to Lakewood Drive.
That busy stretch includes a shopping center, two banks and three large churches. It also is a key connector between southeast Lexington and the University of Kentucky’s Arboretum and campus.
If the sidewalks aren’t built, Lexington would likely have to give up $811,000 federal funds secured to pay most of the project’s $1.1 million cost.
These sidewalks have strong support from many area residents, including the Lansdowne Neighborhood Association.
Several dozen sidewalk supporters rallied at Lansdowne Shopping Center on Wednesday evening and walked along the proposed sidewalks’ path toward town. “We’re very hopeful that tomorrow night this thing will pass the council,” Council member Linda Gordon told the group.
But a group of residents along Tates Creek Road who don’t want sidewalks going through their yards — even though it is public right-of-way acquired when the road was widened several years ago — have hired a good lawyer and raised objections. Two council members, Julian Beard and Cheryl Feigel, have echoed their opposition.
I can understand some of the Tates Creek Road residents’ “not in my front yard” attitude. But these sidewalks have been planned for years. Many of Lexington’s nice residential thoroughfares, such as Richmond Road, have sidewalks that make them better places to live.
People already walk and bike down this busy stretch of Tates Creek Road. They’ve been doing it for years. It’s time they were able to do it safely and comfortably.
Besides, council members, if you reject the Tates Creek Road sidewalk project at this late date because of some special-interest pressure, you will lose public credibility for your vision of making Lexington a more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city.
If you’re going to talk the talk, you need to build the walk.
Click here to see a video report on Wednesday evening’s pro-sidewalk demonstration.
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June 10th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Good point Tom. I am walking the walk. This project has been years in the making. It will make Lexington a healthier, cleaner, and a more eco friendly community.
It is exactly what the majority of Lexington has stated over and over again about the collective vision for our city.
Thanks for your article!
June 10th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Great article! I love the “walk the walk…build the walk”
June 10th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I hope the council will “talk the talk” this is a much needed improvement for our neighborhood. I have travelled to many cities across the nation that have a pedestrian and bike friendly plan it does make a difference. It is past time for our city council to step up and make it happen!
June 10th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
TOM:
Sidewalks were not planned for Tates Creek Road when the subdivisions were planned. Constructing sidewalks now will place an unexpected burden on the property owners to maintain those walks and to keep them clean of snow and ice for a few, if any, walkers and some bike riders, at a cost of more than 1 million dollars in tax money. You and other editoral writers seem to think that as long as it is federal or state dollars, it is no cost to the City. The member of the Lansdowne Neighborhood Association did not get a chance to vote on the issue. The vote was by some of the directors of the Association without consulting with the membership, which action is contrary to vote on prior neighborhood issues. If the money is to be spent, spend it on more needed services.
June 11th, 2009 at 7:04 am
JB Murphy: BOO-HOO. Those residents can stand to have the “unexpected” burden of maintaining their sidewalks just like the rest of us who have sidewalks throughout our neighborhoods. Most of them probably don’t even maintain their own lawns, but would rather pay someone else to do it… and if they can afford that, then perhaps they can also afford to pay someone to come shovel, salt and edge them. Those poor, poor people!
June 11th, 2009 at 7:53 am
It amused me slightly this morning to note that a significant fraction of houses with “No impervious sidewalks” signs in their yard also had huge, expansive, impervious driveways in their yards.
Perhaps, since they’re so interested in “Keeping Lexington green”, they’ll give up their cars, plant trees where their driveways are now, and start walking. (But not on sidewalks, of course, because they don’t want any.)
June 11th, 2009 at 10:55 am
GREAT piece!! As someone who lives in the area and jogs that part of TCR frequently (along with several other folks I see most mornings), I was stunned and outraged when I read that one of the council members actually allowed himself to be quoted as saying he “never, and I mean never” sees anyone walking or jogging that path. I’m very curious where he thinks the worn out path running in the grass beside TCR came from.
JB, as Tom says, I understand the “Not in my backyard (or in this case front)” defense - it’s human nature. That being said, nearly every other neighborhood inside New Circle (particularly those along major routes) seem to deal just fine with “impervious” sidewalks. We’re talking about an area that’s only a few miles from the center of downtown and runs beside the state’s largest university - not a nature reserve that will be permanently scarred by the placement of a few feet of pavement.
June 11th, 2009 at 11:46 am
It was a pleasant experience to share walking on Tates Creek Road last evening with others who are interested in improving accessibility for citizens walking, biking and riding public transportation along that major artery to and from downtown Lexington. It’s amazing what people were observing and discussing as they walked along. There were lots of yards that were poorly maintained with excessively long grass, weeds, and shrubbry overgrowth impeding passage on the grassy areas without walking into the street. Bus stops were difficult to access for anyone not in great physical condition. Trees were in such need of pruning that their limbs prevented us from walking upright unless we moved into the street. In some areas, there was graffiti on the fence and poorly maintained overgrowth littered with trash , including an American flag. Perhaps the construction of sidewalks will allow these homeowners to access their own property frontages so they can clean them up and maintain them properly. I walked the entire stretch from Tates Creek shopping center to The Church of the Latter Day Saints on the west side of the road and returned on the east side. The east side was better maintained and already has more sidewalk footage due to that provided near Centenary Church and other business on that side. However, at one point we encountered a deep hole approximately 10 inches in diameter by 12 inches deep that would not have been visible in the evening or if someone were not looking down. It could have caused a serious injury to a walker!. One of our walkers was on crutches,! What an amazing effort for her. The terrain is irregular, lumpy and very hard on the back, hips and legs of those of us who like to walk regularly on consistent pavement. Interestingly, in my neighborhood, if you allow plants to get too overgrown or infringe on the neighbors by looking unattracitve on impeding their property rights, you are cited with a letter telling you to correct the problem. Why have these property owners been allowed to neglect the areas? In addition, recent construction has ocurred at some of these homes that allowed for property owners to construct signs, lights, fences, gates and etc. on property that does not belong to them, but was designated for sidewalks. How did that happen? Did they get permits to do that? Were they told they might have to move those constructions when sidewalks were built? Did they hire lawyers to get exceptions for them?
One resident “heckled” those who were walking along peacefully by saying, “Where have you been for fifteen years.?” Since I walk and bike there and have for 30 + years, I know she was mistaken. Why have these people chosen to attack a project that gives access to all Lexingtonians to areas that have been cut off for years for many not willing to travel the grassy and weedy paths? Why do UK track team members have to run in the street along that area? This is public property being used for individual selfish purposes!
June 11th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I’m sure they just don’t want “those” people near their homes.
“Those” people being the same ones you likely don’t want whenever something happens near your home. “Those” people are a dicey group of people whose definition and demographic change depending on the group that cites their existence.
In most cases. “Those” people are apartment or other multi-family unit dwellers who might be too close to single-family “alone-together” mentality folks. In this case, “Those” people represent an even greater threat, because they may include those who are not of high enough socio-economic status that they own a car, or worse, they might ride public transit. I mean seriously, who uses sidewalks anyway? “Those” people do, that’s for dang sure.
Common masks to the “Those” people argument are: “save the trees!”, “less stormwater!” and the ever popular “but…but…my property values will go down!”. Seen for what they are, and with the use of special BS-detecting hearing aids, these arguments are nothing more than a cover for a fear of the unknown.
June 11th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Lexington needs the walks. Safety demands sidewalks and bike paths. Bravo to enlightened intelligent council members who vote yes. Don’t let two snobs on council ruin Lexington. I live in the area but have a sidewalk we maintain. Have to shovel snow or trim branches? The Tates Creek residents should have to maintain public access now. They are lucky the city is paying for the walks with federal aid. Otherwise they should have to pay to build them.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Why not built bike paths with the sidewalks. The bike paths we have in our city are just 3 foot wide section on busy streets that dont offer bikes any protection. Are new sub division required to built separate bike paths from roadways, if we want to be bike friendly that would be the way to do it.
June 12th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I think the sidewalks are silly. No one walks down Tates Creek road. I drive it every day. In any case, it is all over now. Maybe David Stephens will finally ride off into the sunset, instead of imposing his opinion of what is best for Lexington on the rest of us.