What is the problem?
Martine explains to us: “The residents keep complaining about the congestion of the sidewalks in the streets of the Notre Dame neighborhood. It is very difficult for some elderly people or parents with strollers to get to the shops, Notre-Dame Church, or the post office from Avenue Durante without having to walk on the road where impatient drivers would nearly run you over. The problem is even more severe for disabled people who would like to move around in a wheelchair. It’s simply impossible in the current state of things, not only because of the sidewalk congestion but also because of the systematic chaotic parking of vehicles on pedestrian crossings.”
What had happened so far?
According to the gathered opinions, not much; the sidewalks remain congested as is unfortunately the case in other parts of the city, which creates an unbearable atmosphere: in response, the residents often hear, “there’s nothing we can do about incivility…” People are a bit annoyed, pedestrians and drivers alike. Pallets extend into the street, the sidewalks are narrowed to almost nothing, not to mention the gutters filled with trash, especially on Sundays when no one cleans up. Behind the Notre Dame church, it’s a nice place to live despite the problems, but this kind of issue tarnishes the neighborhood’s reputation.
And now?
As Robert told us: it is time for the public authorities to tackle this problem seriously and enforce the regulations that exist. Since the arrival of a new chief at the Saetone municipal police station, negotiations have resumed. Recently, parking spaces have finally been marked on the ground to ensure shopkeepers respect pedestrians, which in turn garners more respect for them. It shows that a bit of willpower can move things forward. The public consultation envisaging the revival of the Notre Dame Parking project hints at a major redevelopment of the neighborhood. But be careful, as the locals say, we’ll see how it turns out.
Conclusion?
Isn’t this problem essentially common to the whole city? Is it incivility or a lack of will? Can everything become possible again, as a presidential slogan once said, even if the will is not truly there? This topic, among others, will certainly occupy the debates until Spring 2008. The excessive congestion of sidewalks is one of the local issues.
