To the editor:

It’s no surprise that few children walk to school (see LJW 7/1/26) because Lawrence, sadly, does not have a pedestrian-friendly culture. The city could help by enforcing traffic laws, especially those requiring drivers to stop at stop signs and for pedestrians in crosswalks; and fixing unsafe sidewalks, many of which are the city’s responsibility.

Many problems are vexing. No one wants a child walking the narrow sidewalk on the hill on Ninth Street near Hillcrest School which has zero buffer between the sidewalk and busy street; questions of money and geography (and lack of commitment) have let that specific peril stand. Meanwhile, the school district has chosen the big school model, necessitating closure of several neighborhood schools accessible on foot without crossing major intersections.

Lawrence does OK for recreational paths, but has failed to do much for walking as transportation.

It can be done. I have been in a few U.S. cities, both large and small, where cars consistently stop for pedestrians. Maybe if our leaders tried a bit harder, the goal of more children (and people in general) walking would become a little easier to attain. Until then, walkers beware.

Janet Majure,

Lawrence