Dozens of Yerushalayim residents took to the streets Monday afternoon demanding stronger enforcement against vehicles parked on sidewalks, arguing that pedestrians, parents with strollers and people with disabilities are routinely being forced into dangerous situations.
The problem is particularly familiar in heavily congested areas, including Geulah, Rav Shefa on Shamgar and other busy neighborhoods, where crowded sidewalks and illegally parked vehicles can leave pedestrians with little room to safely pass.
The demonstrators marched through central Yerushalayim to call attention to the obstacles pedestrians regularly encounter and to demand that the city’s sidewalks be restored to their intended use. Participants included people with disabilities, parents pushing strollers and pedestrians of various ages.
The march was organized by the Jerusalem Urban Coalition and began at Davidka Square before proceeding to Bezalel Street. Along the route, participants sought to demonstrate firsthand the difficulties pedestrians face while navigating the city.
During the march, participants encountered illegally parked vehicles blocking sidewalks and forcing pedestrians to step into the roadway. They also pointed to other physical obstructions and lengthy waits at traffic signals designated for pedestrians.
Demonstrators carried signs and called on the Yerushalayim Municipality to crack down on sidewalk parking, increase enforcement and rethink the design of public spaces with greater consideration for the needs and safety of pedestrians.
“The sidewalk is a sterile area that is supposed to serve us safely, and not become an obstacle course,” the organizers said.
“When a car blocks a sidewalk, a person in a wheelchair or a parent with a stroller is forced to risk their life in the roadway. The time has come for the municipality to return the sidewalks to pedestrians,” the organizers added.
The Yerushalayim Urban Coalition includes several advocacy organizations, among them the pedestrian group “Our Streets,” “Bicycles for Yerushalayim” and the public transportation passenger organization “The Next Stop.”
{Matzav.com}
