This is the song that doesn’t end,
yes it goes on and on my friend.
Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,
and they’ll continue singing it forever just because…

Just like the song the story of this sidewalk is one that does not know how to stop.

Here is an example of what most of us try and navigate as we attempt to be pedestrians in this “walkable” City.

DSC09821.JPG

It is difficult to tell in the photo but the depth of the damage to the sidewalk was about 6 inches. If you were walking it at night or were impaired in some way you would fall over. If might even be an economic development tool here in New Orleans for injured pedestrians to “sue”:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/nyregion/04pothole.html.

Here is another one..

Sidewalks

I like the ad hoc homemade nature of this one it seems to suit the neighborhood which is half wrecked.

This sidewalk is a good example of the misuse of space..

Picture 1

People always complain about pedestrians in the streets but when the cars are on the sidewalks you have little to no choice.

Here is a nice example of street talk..

Sidewalks

and this

Sidewalks

Which may be a bit vulgar but is direct and to the point and is the “same in public as it is in private”:http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl051609cbhead.cd06325.html.

Which leads us to this sidewalk which by City standards is breaking all sorts of laws.

Happy Sidewalk

But instead of actually fining people who turn the front yard into a driveway they have decided to continue to harass these women for the joyfully painted sidewalk in front of the house. “Click here to read the letter to the owners and the story behind the sidewalk”:http://davidshouse.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/sidewalk-threatened/.

David and his sidewalk

Karen Gadbois

Karen Gadbois co-founded The Lens. She now covers New Orleans government issues and writes about land use. With television reporter Lee Zurik she exposed widespread misuse of city recovery funds and led...