During non-business hours let automatic sensors control traffic. The traffic stop should be long enough for the elderly, parents with strollers, shoppers with bags, and wheelchairs to cross any street conveniently. Add more crosswalks, and enforce laws that require vehicles to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Residents and local planning commissions can perform pedestrian audits. More attention, priority, and better walking conditions in our downtown business districts will create many other benefits.
Walkable communities are more livable, safer and better places to do business.
A more pedestrian-friendly business district will lead to more people walking in town, which leads to more activity, which is attractive for more businesses to locate in downtown sites. Both pedestrians and drivers will benefit. Sustainable economic development protects and improves existing communities and businesses with measures like these. If government officials, planners, chambers of commerce, and economic developers want to talk about sustainable economic development, they should walk the walk. Mike Molesevich is an environmental consultant and the former mayor of Lewisburg.