Sidewalks needed in Edna

We have a problem, and are trying to get our problem solved. We need sidewalks in our city. There are children, disabled adults, and other pedestrians who walk/run/roll down our city streets. There are practically no sidewalks in our town, except for portions of sidewalks that go almost nowhere, and that is precious little.

We have tried to address the issue with the mayor, and the calls were not returned. We have had City Council member Sorenson tell us she would not sit down with us to discuss the issue, only to have her finally tell us that she was not our city council member. The three school sidewalks around the schools are in her city council district on the map. This issue is a valid one, and cannot be ignored.

Many of our schoolchildren walk to school and have to walk in people’s lawns to avoid being hit while walking to school.  Walking to school should not be perilous. From a study by Knoblauch, Tustin, Smith, and Pietrucha, it has been found that “Pedestrians are more than twice as likely to be struck by a vehicle in locations without sidewalks.”  Our children are very important to us.

The disabled in our city are at a complete disadvantage. If a disabled, wheelchair-bound individual wants to “roll” to town, or “roll” with his daughter to the children’s park, it is impossible. An article from Ragged Edge Magazine by Mary Johnson cites person after person after person in a wheelchair that was struck by a vehicle. She goes on to state that “Wheelchair users nationwide risk their lives daily by being forced into the street because their communities, despite the Americans with Disabilities Act, have not bothered to install curb cuts or maintain sidewalks.” This is a travesty. Jason is disabled and has been run off of the road into a ditch several times while trying to roll to one of the convenience stories in Edna.

Those who would walk or run for their health are in jeopardy as well. In a study from Heinonen and Eck, it has been stated that “The absence of sidewalks could encourage or even force some pedestrians to walk along dangerous roads.” If walking and running are good for our health and increase tendencies toward obesity, why should it be dangerous?  It should not be.

Please take a moment and understand that our needs are legitimate. Our children are important. The handicapped are still mobile in our society. Walking and running for the sake of health should not endanger one’s health. We need sidewalks in Edna.

Jason and Betsy Thompson

Edna, Texas