After several years of living in the "Five Points" neighborhood and walking downtown as much as possible, I am still amazed that the sidewalk going from hereto Lexington Avenue is still in the same condition it has always been in.
Unfortunately, this Thanksgiving, a man was killed in the heart of this treacherous stretch of road. Broadway has no business being four-lanes wide (five at times with a turning lane). Two directional lanes, one turning lane, wider (typical code) sidewalks and bike lanes would make much more sense and not be very expensive. When my son was young and we would walk into town with a stroller, I would actually have to roll him along the road to avoid the multiple telephone poles that come right out of the middle of the sidewalks. There are stretches where it is impossible to walk two people abreast and it is always disconcerting to walk on a sidewalk so close to traffic that is so often traveling over the speed limit.
This sidewalk is an easy fix that would greatly improve the quality of life north of downtown.
— Duncan Lyon
Asheville
[yawn]…at least you have a sidewalk! Try walking anywhere in East Asheville.