Blocked Sidewalk Next to Ralphs Shows Little Concern for Pedestrians

It’s great to hear they will be looking into the matter. It is a little inconvenient to have the sidewalk closed in the manner they have.

I’m all about weathering the storm, but this construction is going to take a year in a half.

Oh come on people, stop complaining. So you have to cross to the other side. Big deal. If pedestrians choose to ignore the warning sign, then it is at their own risk.

And I’m sorry but this sidewalk closure will have no impact on the Ralph’s. That’s rediculous.

If you don’t understand the complaint, then you’re obviously not a pedestrian… This is becoming more and more of an issue Downtown. I still see tourists walking in the street because of the construction on Grand next to the Colburn School. It’s a shameful sight. And forget about even trying to walk around the new cop shop between First & Main or around construction on the new LAPD Motor Transport Division on Main. How about closing off a lane for traffic and creating a walkway for pedestrians like they do in other big cities? Then motorists could just drive in another lane. No biggie, right?

Yes, this is a legitimate concern. Try dealing with this when you’re pushing a baby-stroller.

I am serene knowing that Jan Perry’s office is ‘handling’ the issue. Their ability to pass the buck is impressive.

Jan’s office has been great on these issues. This is a bigger problem than dealing with it on a case by case basis, it requires a change in the law that is far reaching. The community must organize around this, and we can get the changes made if we want to.

Makes me uneasy when Jan gets behind something.

Well JM, I actually do extensive walking downtown. And I mean extensive. I regularly walk several miles at a time all over downtown including Chinatown, Little Tokyo and Toy and Arts District, Financial District, South Park etc. So yes, I do understand the pedestrian situation and no, it does not bother me to have to cross to the other side for situations such as this. And even puching a baby stroller does not matter since we are still just talking about WALKING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. BIG DEAL.

I have walked the hell out of downtown.

Toe, by your own admission, you haven’t pushed a baby stroller all over downtown. I have. With three kids in tow, no less. It is a problem.

Not everyone is as vigorous as you are. Count your blessings. Imagine if you were in a wheelchair. Imagine you were my retired parents. This is a legitimate problem. Not a profound problem. But, it is emblamatic of the city’s disdain for pedestrians. This attitude needs to be changed.

I feel this is an issue too. It’s not like it’s temporarily blocked off, but it’s blocked off for months. Sometimes it there’s a big detour route to get around it. Sometimes you’re not given a warning, so you’re already walking down the block, when you realize it’s blocked off and you have to back track. A part of the reason to living downtown is the convenience. Blocking the sidewalks takes away from that. Sidewalks are the road for us casual walkers and when it’s blocked off it’s blocking our paths. This blocking cause people to not want to walk or explore downtown.

One property that blocks off the sidewalk isn’t a huge deal, but imagine if all of the construction sites going on in downtown blocked off the sidewalks.

Mr. Kennedy, once again asumptions are made. I have two children, a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 month old and have alot of experience pushing strollers. You imply that mothers, women, are not as vigorous.

Do we really need to go out and measure the additional distance that is required to walk or push a stroller or wheelchair across to the other side of the street? The only additional distance we are talking about is the width of the street times two.

Not too much, and since that street is fairly narrow, my guess is we are talking about people walking, pushing a stroller, etc, an additional 60 or 70 feet.

Now I really hope you don’t come back with an additional comment that says that additional 60 or 70 feet is too much for some people because I will just have to say I give with responding.

Ms. Toe, no, I did not mean to imply anything about women. Not sure why you’d construe that. My reference to your obvious good health was meant as a compliment. I’m puzzled you construed it as slur on against the fairer sex. However, I sense you’re inclined to take offense and play the victim for rhetorical purposes. It is effective. No matter. I don’t mind being cast as the cad.

Honestly, if you don’t find the inconvenience of the dealing with these sidewalk closures a big deal, you’re entitled to your opinion. You certainly have more patience and deference than most of us. That you don’t concern yourself with others who are less physically capable as you, fine. That you don’t think the situation where a sidewalk is closed off for months or years degrades the urban fabric, fine. Many of us disagree with your deference. To us, the policy of sidewalk closures evinces a contempt for pedestrians, which makes for poor urban policy.

Each onto their own. Your patience and vigor are admirable. All of us are not so blessed.

My favorite is when they magically erase the sidewalk for two blocks at a time. It makes walking around Downtown so convenient. Toe, I’ve walked the hell out of Downtown too, but this problem bugs the hell out of me. If it’s that easy for pedestrians to just put up with the situation and take the detour (by your reasoning), then shouldn’t it be even easier for cars to merge instead? The issue isn’t really pedestrian laziness, it’s an issue of making Downtown pedestrian-friendly. If tourists and visitors are dodging traffic because of building sites, how friendly do you think Downtown looks? For locals, it’s an issue of courtesy. It’s done in a common-sense manner everywhere else, but construction has had a free rein here, with few residents to complain. Maybe it’s just time for some common sense? Or maybe I’m asking for too much…

Let me take a step back and decompress this.

I only felt that people sometimes when people complain they forget that the situation really is not that bad, even if your pushing a stroller. My point was only that if you really thought about it, the closed sidewalk means you have to only walk an additional 60 or so feet. That’s all.

That being said, I do agree that the city probably could close a lane on some of these streets and use it for a pedestrian way as some of these streets are really not that busy.

Have a nice day and see you on the street. I’ll be the one in the yellow shirt walking about noon on fridays all over South Park, Financial District, etc.

I walk this route at least very other day carrying grocery bags back to the subway station - and like most everyone else - I will be walking in the street until the re-open the sidewalk.

And they do NOT have to close a lane a traffic to re-open the sidewalk - they only have to lose a parking lane - not a traffic lane.

Also you can see when the their fencing jobs around trees - there may even be enough room to leave enough of the sidewalk clear once they finish their initial work, if they are required to. But if if they can not - most major cities - such as New York - REQUIRE all construction sites to keep the sidewalks open and there is no reason why LA can not almost make that a requirement. Hundreds of pedestrians a day should be more important than a half-dozen parked cars.

The latest …

There is a sign on the corner of 9th and Hope stating the closure of the sidewalk up ahead.

Now the construction company has a man sitting next to the sign who announces “The sidewalk is closed up ahead” to every single person that passes by.