An Evaluation of Sidewalk Availability and Width: Analyzing Municipal Policy and Equity Disparities

摘要

This research examines sidewalk availability, width, and socio-demographic/socio-economic disparities from cities with differing municipal sidewalk maintenance policies. Sidewalk maintenance policy tends to place the onus on either the city or the abutting landowners. Existing sidewalk studies generally focus on smaller cities or limit analyses to micro-scale sample areas. Utilizing geospatial data and software, this paper evaluates citywide sidewalk availability and width across two cities that take responsibility for sidewalk maintenance (Austin, TX, and Raleigh, NC) and two where the onus is on the abutting landowner (Denver, CO, and Portland, OR). The results suggest an overall lack of sidewalk availability in all cities, but there were no substantial differences in availability based on municipal sidewalk policy. All cities, regardless of policy, show an unexpected relationship between wider sidewalks and lower incomes. Regarding socio-economic disparities, lower income block groups were associated with greater sidewalk availability in the cities that take responsibility and less sidewalk availability in the landowner-maintained cities.