The Politics of Sidewalk Funding

Do cities that make homeowners repair sidewalks subsidize car culture? Or do cities that fund sidewalks subsidize sprawl?

1 minute read

August 24, 2016, 5:00 AM PDT

By Elana Eden


Suburban Sidewalk

Alita Xander / Shutterstock

After paying to fix the sidewalk outside his home in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, walkability advocate Randy Garbin argues in CityLab that municipalities should fund sidewalk repair as part of regular public infrastructure maintenance.  

Pedestrian infrastructure, he says, is too often neglected in favor of facilities that serve cars.

"The [Jenkintown] policy struck me as yet-another example of how towns and cities subsidize automobile usage and neglect walkability," he writes. "Freed from responsibility for its sidewalks, the town spends the money elsewhere, often on pedestrian-unfriendly projects."

Aaron Renn of urbanophile challenges that perspective, arguing that in some cases, privatizing sidewalk repair can further progressive urban values like walkability, density, and sustainability.

Particularly in suburban areas, he says, homeowners should bear responsibility for an improvement that "benefits [the homeowner] personally more than anyone else," rather than outsource the costs of unsustainable neighborhoods to municipalities.

"The best way to curb sprawl is to make these developments start internalizing their infrastructure cost," Renn writes. "Once these costs start becoming visible, change is possible."

Wednesday, July 27, 2016 in CityLab

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.