Brick Sidewalks: A Work in Progress
One of the most frequent accessibility complaints we receive at the Commission concerns brick sidewalks. These sidewalks are often difficult to navigate for people who use canes, walkers, wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Brick sidewalks also pose difficulties for any person who might get his or her foot stuck in a protruding brick (or in a divot where a brick used to be). They can also be dangerous ground to walk upon, especially when brick sidewalks become cracked or uneven, fill up with water and freeze over in the winter. While some may argue that the long term cost to install brick vs. concrete sidewalks favors brick, this argument does not hold up to close scrutiny. A properly installed concrete sidewalk is just as durable as a properly installed brick sidewalk, at a fraction of the cost. Furthermore, falls and other injuries sustained by people who try to navigate brick sidewalks, are far more costly than the price of reinstalling concrete after it wears down.
Former Commission member JoAnn Haas, whose husband uses a cane, rollater and sometimes a manual wheelchair, finds it very limiting when the couple goes for a walk in Cambridge. “Our own neighborhood has lots of brick sidewalks that are cracked, and the bricks are raised from dirt or sand below, or are simply missing in some areas,” states JoAnn. She further points out that her husband is forced to walk on the city streets in some areas because the sidewalks are not safe for him. “He can't always see the protruding bricks which are often uneven,” says JoAnn.
The Commission has been working with the Department of Public Works over the past decade or more, to find solutions to these problems with brick sidewalks. Using wire cut brick (instead of the irregularly shaped City Hall Paver) as a narrow accent strip next to the curb, while maintaining most of the sidewalk width as concrete, has been one such solution. This combination acknowledges Cambridge’s historical legacy, while providing a safer walking surface for everyone.
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