Committee considers future of carriage walks

Findlay City Council's Streets, Sidewalks & Parking Committee is debating the future of the city's "carriage walks." The walkways, which provide a connection from sidewalks, across the tree lawn to the curb, are located in the city's right-of-way. Carriage walks, also known as "courtesy walks," date back to the days of horse and buggy, giving carriage passengers a safe place to step down. As modern streets handle more traffic, however, city officials say they pose a safety concern by providing a "walkway" right into busy streets. Most older neighborhoods still have carriage walks, but as the city updates streets, sidewalks and curbs, some are being removed due to safety concerns. Council has received complaints from residents who want their carriage walks replaced. Many are now used as a clear passage to get trash cans to the curb. At the Aug. 3 meeting of council, John "Jack" Ramsey, of 229 Madison Ave., complained about the city not replacing his carriage walk after completing a sewer replacement project on the street. Ramsey said there was nothing wrong with the sidewalk that was originally installed by his grandfather. His grandparents bought the home brand new in 1925. Ramsey said he was told that if he lived on the side of the street that allows parking, then the carriage walk would have been replaced and that installing the walks on the "no parking" side of the street creates a liability. However, Ramsey argued that his older home does not have a large, modern driveway, and that without the carriage walk, visitors would have to walk down the street to his driveway and cross the street. He told the council that regardless of the city's new policy on the carriage walks, it was wrong of the city to tear out the walk and not replace it. Legislation is now being debated by the committee that would assign liability for a carriage walk to the homeowner. The committee, chaired by Councilman Jim Niemeyer, R-6, is expected to take the issue back up at a meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, just prior to council's regular meeting. The committee will meet in the council chambers in the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. Committee meetings are open to the public. The committee is now reviewing a policy enacted by the city of Bloomington, Illinois. According to Bloomington's Public Works Department, carriage walks also put structural pressure on abutting curbs and sidewalks, especially during warm weather as materials expand. The added pressure can cause sidewalk panels to buckle or strips of the curb to pop out of place. Bloomington also argues that carriage walks encourage pedestrians to cross the street in the middle of blocks, instead of at intersections, where it is safer. Bloomington does allow for carriage walks to be replaced if the property has no driveway, or the owner provides some other justification for needing the walk. Property owners must sign a "hold harmless agreement" to free the city of all liability. The property owner must also agree to assume all financial expenses. Finally, the walk must be approved by Bloomington's Public Works Department. So far, no legislation on the issue has been introduced to the council. Grant: 419-427-8412