South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-15
Safety Paths Needed
for Pedestrians
AstoS Must Have Present
Highways; Therefore Sep
arate Provision Must be
Made for Those
Who Walk.

- Nollililtct VI NoihbtAthA en-
perts. after carefully studying the
question. has unanimously cOnclud-
ed that the two currents Of hu-
mainly must be separated; that the
stream and the trickle cannot run
down the same pipe. any more than
creased lightning and molasses-in-
January could. The first and prob
ably main thing 10 be done is 70
make separate provision for the
pedestrians. This not because their
rights are any smaller and less i'm
portant, but simply because their
feet are.
They don't strike the ground. or
roadbed. with more than about one
twentieth OF either the weight or the
speed that the tires of an auto do,
so that IL is much less expensive and
troublesome 10 build special paths
and sidewalks for them than spec
ial speedways for the motor cars.
These paths and walk ways
should Of course. be perfectly paved
and drained, and. where they run
ALONGSIDE Of auto roads, separated
either by a deep ditch or by rows
OF cement or steel posts, so as TO
protect them from skidding or
swerving or cOlliding cars. They
should also. and this is most i'm
portant. be carried across the motor
roadways at fairly frequent inter
walls. either by elevating the foot
path or depressing the roadway.
These safety paths would cost some
thing to install. but comparatively
little to keep us, as compared with
the main roadways and the slight
additional expense could easily be
met by a raise in the license fee
OF motorists for a limited number
of years.
iutoists Would Help.
Indeed, most motorists, who prob
ably own over half the wealth of
the community anyway. would be
glad 10 pay the additional tax for the
sake OF being rid of the annoyance
of pedestrians. who differ in degrees
Of eXaspcratingness. but are all
nuisances at best, when seen through
windshield, admirably and de-
from every other point of view.
1t would probably be found both
more convenient and less expensive
to carry some of these safety foot
paths across the fields and through
the open country. especially if there
are any corners TO he cut off or
short cuts taken. and this. expecial-
~ now that fences are becoming a
relic of barbarism. would add great
ly in the pleasures of country walk
ing and the enjoyment OF country
life.
There is nothing which the en-
thusiastic walker. who has taken
pedestrian trips on the other side
of the Atlantic. misses so sorely
and regrets the absence of so bit
terly in this country as that per
feet network of delightfully."- kept,
curling and winding pathways and
foot trails which make country
walking in most countries of Eu-
rope a pleasure and a delight Now
that fences are down and people
have become at least three-quarters
civilized the old medieval horror
and dread OF trespase and Of
strangers tramping across your
fields and your woods in various
directions has largely disappeared.
or at least is well on the way in
that direction.
Would Have Military Value
a carefully planned and well kept
ystem of foot paths and walking
rails traversing the fields and the
woods in all directions would be one
IF the most valuable and tremen-
dous additions to the health and
chest expansion and muscular
happiness OF the community that
could well be IMAGINED. These would
also be of great value from a mill
tary. Boy Scout and preparedness
point OF view, as one OF the great
est obstacle 10 the carrying out OF
hikes and scouting expeditions and
athletic and semi military exploring
trips in the country at present is
that there is practically no choice
between country roads. which are
swamps of ruts and mud i'm the
spring and deserts Of dust in the
summer and fall and striking
straight across the country. tramp
ing down growing crops. crawlinS
through or climbing over and i'm
either case breaking down fences.
frightening country-jake cattle and
sheep, who have never seen strang-
ers. making misery for the mixers
and transportation for the OUTRAGED
farmers.
In the cities the method recon-
mended Of meeting the problem
would be different and considerably
more expensive. although when the
much greater numbers benefited bv
the change is considered the average
per capita cost 20 either motorists
or the general taxpayer would not
be far different. The first step would
be the building either OF foot
bridges or Of subways for foot-pas-
sengers. under or over the points
OF greatest rush and congestion OF
wheeled traffic. IL New York city
for instance, at such points as the
intersection OF FOrty-second ST. and
Fifth av.. the lower and upper Dor
ders .Of Madison square. OF Union
square and the street ways which
converge at the foot OF Brooklyn
bridge. Times square. opposite the