The Solution to Los Angeles' Crumbling Sidewalks

Parking guru Donald Shoup discusses how the city of Los Angeles can fix its roughly 4,300 miles of sidewalk that require some degree of repair, for free.

1 minute read

August 21, 2014, 2:00 PM PDT

By Maayan Dembo @DJ_Mayjahn


Cracked Sidewalk

Konstantin Sutyagin / Shutterstock

According to a recent Op-Ed by Donald Shoup in the Los Angeles Times, "the city of Los Angeles has 10,750 miles of public sidewalks, and about 40% need some degree of repair, which the city estimates will cost at least $1.5 billion." Los Angeles got itself into this predicament after shifting sidewalk repair liability in 1973 from the state and owners of abutting properties to the city. In 1976 though, funding dried up and since then Los Angeles has resorted to either patching asphalt on cracked sidewalk, or more likely, nothing at all.

Shoup suggests Los Angeles can learn from cities like Pasadena and Piedmont, which mandate property owners fix abutting broken sidewalks when selling the property, also known as point-of-sale program. Point-of-sale programs have precedent in Los Angeles, as property owners are currently required to install a low-flow flush toilets before selling the property. For this to work, "before a property is sold, the city inspects the sidewalk fronting the property. If the inspector finds a broken sidewalk that is unsafe, the owner must fix it before the sale is final."

Shoup discusses some of the advantages of this program, such as raising property sale value and neighborhood values.

Monday, August 18, 2014 in Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight