Philly's three top pedestrian complaints

I TOOK A WALK in the sun a few days back with the Dynamic Duo, looking for sidewalk hazards.

The Dynamic Duo are Debby Schaaf and Pamela Freyd, unpaid volunteer co-chairwomen of the 4-year-old Feet First Philly, which is sponsored by the Clean Air Council.

Feet First Philly promotes the novel idea that sidewalks belong to the people who walk them.

Crazy, isn't it?

Feet First has done surveys (you can volunteer or chime in at www.feetfirstphilly.org) of sidewalk obstacles. The No. 1 pedestrian complaint is poorly maintained, cracked, uneven, broken or missing sidewalks. Those are the responsibility of the property owner, with the Streets Department providing enforcement, except it mostly doesn't, maybe because it doesn't know about the problem. That's why you should dial 3-1-1 when you see a bad sidewalk.

When notified, Streets Commissioner David Perri says, inspectors go out and issue a "notice of defect." If the landlord doesn't repair the problem, Streets doesn't have the money to do the repair itself and then bill the owner.

No. 2 is bad drivers, especially those who don't yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. The police department provides enforcement, except it doesn't in most cases.

No. 3 is "construction disruption" - closed sidewalks, inadequate alternate paths, poor signage. This is mainly a Center City problem, and Streets is supposed to provide enforcement, but it doesn't in most cases. That's where the walkologists, the Dynamic Duo, come in.

During our walk in the sun, which zigzagged from 12th and Market to 19th and Chestnut, the Dynamic Duo checked to see if permits were posted and current, as required by law, and if signage was large enough and placed properly. It was sometimes yes, sometimes no. Signs must be at least 11 x 17 and should be posted at the head of the block where there is construction and direct walkers to a safe crossing.

"I have a friend who tripped on one of those signs," says Freyd.

These seem like little things, but with enough little things you can have an obstacle course for pedestrians, and we are all pedestrians.

"For people who are able-bodied, it's not a big deal," says Schaaf, "but for people with disabilities or frailties or with a stroller" it can be dangerous.

Also rating high in the online survey: Bikes and skateboards on sidewalks and bikes running red lights and stop signs, says Schaaf.

With "construction disruption" ranking third, why didn't Feet First tackle the higher-rated problems, bad sidewalks and dangerous drivers?

"We focus on the things you can make some progress on and we think we can do that with construction," Schaaf says.

Feet First says pedestrians "should have the freedom to stroll leisurely, side by side." Try that on 13th between Chestnut and Walnut at dinnertime.

Other problems mentioned on the survey included aggressive driving, traffic signals too brief for pedestrians to cross the street, curb-cut problems including poor drainage, panhandlers and sidewalks congested with cafes, vendors and sandwich signs.

Aaaah. I've written before about restaurants illegally encroaching on sidewalks and recently have noticed an army of A-frame advertising signs.

Every single one of them is illegal, but the blue ribbon goes to those placed in the middle of the sidewalk. I report them to Streets, but Streets has too few enforcement officers, says Schaaf.

Perri agrees, adding that the city has provided money for four more right-of-way inspectors.

City living requires some civility and since that doesn't come naturally to some people, the response must be enforcement.

So I'm urging the Dynamic Duo - and you - to go after the sidewalk cafes that hog your space and A-frame signs that block your right of way.

Dial 3-1-1 to report them. Tell them Byko sent you.

Phone: 215-854-5977

On Twitter: @StuBykofsky

Blog: ph.ly/Byko

Columns: ph.ly/StuBykofsky