This month is National Pedestrian Safety Month. Pedestrians typically walk on sidewalks, but in Richmond, sidewalks often have hazards such as cracks, uplifts or overhanging vegetation that make them difficult to navigate or even dangerous. The City of Richmond settles claims annually for people who trip and fall due to damaged sidewalks. Despite direction by the City Council in 2017, the City has yet to prepare a sidewalk inspection and maintenance plan and policy. See “Richmond, California, Sidewalks and Street Edges.”

Even more dangerous than damaged sidewalks are sidewalks that are blocked by parked cars. Apparently, many people do not understand or even care that sidewalks are for walking. A lot of people believe they are for parking cars. See “Cars on Richmond Sidewalks Present Obstacles for Residents; So Do parking Fines.”|

Vehicles blocking sidewalks violate state law and local ordinances, yet enforcement is almost non-existent due to staffing shortages and low priority . Vehicles blocking sidewalks are particularly dangerous for young children who are walking to school, parents pushing baby strollers, disabled people in wheelchairs or walkers, and the elderly, all of whom are routinely forced into the street to navigate their neighborhoods. Take a look at this this video I made of a dad pushing a stroller having to detour into a busy street to avoid two cars totally blocking the sidewalk.

I have been taking photos and sending them to RPD for years, but the problem doesn’t seem to be improving. Below are some typical examples: