Dear Editor,
It grieves me to have to address the increasing use of pavements and walkways as parking lots for vehicles in this country. It grieves me because this is not the occasional breach of the law by a few errant drivers, but translates to utter disregard for pedestrians who use these walkways to safely and comfortably get to where they’re going —schoolchildren, the elderly, pregnant women, and the disabled being among the most adversely affected by this growing epidemic.
For decades, pedestrians have been left to fend for themselves on roadways that have poorly painted pedestrian crossings, a lack of sidewalks and poorly constructed and dilapidated walkways. It’s already dangerous and difficult to be a pedestrian. We don’t need to add more to the list of burdens being faced.
If we’re aiming towards being a truly developed and progressive society, energy and resources need to be invested into fixing the things that matter, and being able to traverse by foot is one of them.
I request that the authorities responsible for overlooking this breach of law take this matter seriously, since the health and lives of all those who walk are at stake.
Let’s get our streets safe for those who use them most.