By Jill Locantore, WalkDenver Policy Director

As Denver’s population grows, the City must provide the basic infrastructure that allows people to safely and easily get around.

Walkable neighborhoods with good sidewalks are the foundation of a complete transportation system that offers practical options including transit, walking, biking, car share, ride share, bike share, and driving a personal vehicle.

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The lack of sidewalks in an urban environment is unacceptable. Photo courtesy of WalkDenver.

Good sidewalks are particularly important for the one-third of the population that doesn’t drive due to age, disability, or income.

Currently Denver property owners are responsible for building and maintaining sidewalks adjacent to their property.  Sidewalk repairs can cost a property owner thousands of dollars.

Lax enforcement of the current sidewalk policy means that many Denver neighborhoods have substandard or no sidewalks at all.

A fee of $5-$10 per month (for an average property) would provide a sustainable funding source for building new sidewalks, repairing old sidewalks, and upgrading substandard sidewalks throughout Denver.

WalkDenver has therefore launched a petition calling upon the City and County of Denver to assume responsibility for building and repairing sidewalks, and to establish a dedicated funding source (such as a property fee) for this purpose.

Join with WalkDenver and sign the petition today! Together we can make Denver not only more walkable, but a truly great city.