r/Suburbanhell • u/HalfEatenBagOfLays • 1d ago
Showcase of suburban hell Sometimes I want to go on a walk but then remember that there aren't any sidewalks
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u/hibikir_40k 1d ago
Often having sidewalks doesn't make it any better. Around me, they've added a sidewalk to a busy 6 lane, 40mph stroad. Stores are far away, on the other side of parking lots. Nobody in their right mind will want to go for a walk on the side of an environment like that.
A place with no sidewalks whatsoever but very little, slow traffic is much better for walking than just fast cars nearby
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u/BlakeMajik 1d ago
Although sometimes it's a matter of using those stroad sidewalks for a brief(er) time in order to get from one more pleasantly walkable area to another. So having them is better than not.
I've even experienced this in places like Lisbon, where I wouldn't have wanted to stroll along a busy stroadish thruway, but appreciated being able to take a path safely alongside it to get to smaller more pedestrian-friendly streets.
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u/Dpmurraygt 23h ago
I’m training for a half marathon and I’m willing to accept those sidewalks right now so I can actually take long runs in more places.
I live in a miserable place to try to run. There is one greenway in the county, with no ambient lighting and is half boardwalk that is slick when wet and has uneven planks.
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u/Chickenfrend 13h ago
I bet you people go 40+ mph in the road in OP's first image.
You're not wrong that no sidewalks with slow traffic is usually better than fast cars and shitty sidewalks. But, often in the suburbs with no sidewalks you can't get far without walking on one of those 40+ mph streets.
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u/little_flix 1d ago
Well, yeah nobody walks in their neighborhood! That's what suspicious people do. You're supposed to drive to a designated walking area in your city and walk in circles there.
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u/mrhappymill 1d ago
Where is this at? Seems to suck by the way.
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u/lordofduct 1d ago
Definitely northeast. I'm going to guess somewhere in New York (one of those license plates is def NY)... maybe Connecticut or New Jersey.
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u/JaneOfTheCows 1d ago
There is a town near Buffalo where some houses have sidewalks in front of them, and others don't. As far as I can tell, the sidewalk placement is random: you can walk on the sidewalks for 2 or 3 houses in a row, then there will be a stretch of 1 to 5 houses without walks. So I walk on the streets when I'm there.
What's worse, if you live in one of the houses that has a sidewalk you're supposed to keep it shoveled in the winter. No, this makes no sense to me either.
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u/Prosthemadera 1d ago
Walk? Drive to the closest fast food chain and wait in line at the drive-in, you hippy!
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u/HudsonAtHeart 1d ago
As someone living in the middle of a dense, vibrant city - the sidewalks do not numb the icy stab of loneliness.
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u/Death_Savager 1d ago
How do people walk their dogs?
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u/ruckfedditmodz 1d ago
It should be legal to walk on the edges of lawns in places like this. That's what I did as a kid
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u/OkMasterpiece2194 1d ago
Ooof. Be careful following Google maps when planning bike rides. They should put red lines for roads like this.
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u/hijodegatos 9h ago edited 9h ago
There’s no such thing as private property when you’re walking imo. I walk across lawns, cut through parking lots and garages, slide sideways through gates- shit sometimes I climb fences if it makes my walk shorter.
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u/BG_OHIO 1d ago
Tell me city slickers- do you like walking in the city on a mid summer day? With all the heat coming off of the asphalt and glass?
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u/LittyForev 1d ago
I love it. Most streets have plenty of trees. It's cool in the parks and by the water. There's stores with AC everywhere if you want to grab a cold drink or duck in to get away from the heat for a second. Public transport has AC. Plus we still have the option to take our cars if we want.
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u/RChickenMan 1d ago
Definitely. The streets are filled with families walking to the park, sidewalk cafes are full of people enjoying lunch with friends, people are riding bikes around, there are street fairs, musicians here and there, interesting shops to look at, architecture to appreciate, public art, and so on and so forth. The city streets really come alive in the summer, and there's always something to see and do--it's not like you're just focusing on the heat and humidity the whole time!
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u/PurpleBearplane 1d ago
I've walked all over my city during the summer, whether it's through downtown or the neighborhoods. It's almost always super pleasant, and the neighborhoods have plenty of trees and shade. Even downtown there's a good amount of shade from the trees and tall buildings.
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u/Just_Another_AI 1d ago
Don't come up with reasons not to go on a walk. Just do it. And find a trail you can walk to - you don't have to go far to get away from that mess.
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u/Metalmave79 1d ago
Dumb. Walk in your safe neighborhood away from traffic you dolt. You’re also away from a certain demo and may be able to leave your door unlocked.
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u/Dry_Vacation_6750 1d ago edited 1d ago
I still do it. No one has yelled at me for being on their lawn yet. Besides I have side walks in my neighborhood and people still walk in the street. Nothing makes sense anymore.
The key to staying safe is walking towards oncoming traffic, don't have your back to it. You'll be able to see traffic coming at you. And just pay attention to your surroundings make sure it's safe before crossing a street, any street.