What a neighborhood sidewalk debate says about Baton Rouge

Obviously solution: double decker streets.

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Can we realistically expect to be a progressive community with such a provincial mindset?”

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Could you be a little more condescending, Stephanie?

I don't want to be a progressive community. Use my existing tax dollars more efficiently for these limited use projects. Leisure paths should be on public property or private land designated for it, not my neighborhood.

When I first moved to Baton Rouge, I couldn't believe how few sidewalks there were. The only thing I think that can explain it is that most of the people grew up not having sidewalks so it's just normal to them. Seeing vehicles swerving around families walking down Hyacinth in Southdowns is crazy. They just repaved that entire street like 7 years ago and still didn't think to add a sidewalk for families walking to the lakes.

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FuturEBR, the city’s land use plan adopted in 2011, tried to address some of the problems planners have long recognized are caused by gated communities—traffic congestion, economic segregation, loss of a sense of community—by calling for greater connectivity in new subdivisions. But there hasn’t been any serious move to limit or ban communities with limited access, and there is clearly no political will to do so.

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She is clearly one of those Progs who thinks SHE knows BETTER what to do with your property than you do. These folks actually think it is OK to tell you what you can or can't do to be ALLOWED to build your home in a certain spot that you purchased. Same folks that want to force developers to put projects ("affordable housing") in the midst of anything nice they develop.

We don't live in a sleepy village of 10,000 residents who can bike everywhere. Many travel several miles to work/school and choose to live in the suburbs due to safety, property values, quality education for children, and other reasons. Biking 15-20 miles one way in south Louisiana will not ever happen. High humidity, daily rains in the summer months and long commutes will render these expensive bike paths almost useless. At least the treehuggers will feel "progressive" while they drive their BMW's around.

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She is clearly one of those Progs who thinks SHE knows BETTER what to do with your property than you do.

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Absolutely. Look, I understand that sometimes you have to take control of a servitude for the greater good of the community, i.e. widening roads. However, to pass off one's concern for the impact to their property value as a "provincial attitude" is about as dismissive and condescending as you can get. This is why these people are becoming hated more and more everyday.

The biggest issue with modern "progressivism" is that it has no foundation in anything other than the group think of the time and collectivism which is why it's doomed for failure and will inevitably consume itself.

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problems planners have long recognized are caused by gated communities

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economic segregation, loss of a sense of community

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Umm, I'm pretty sure this is precisely what people are paying for in a gated community.

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In surveys and public forums Baton Rougeans routinely say they want connectivity, sidewalks, bike paths, wider and better roads, and an end to traffic and gridlock.

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Younger generations want this.

The old guard doesn't. Until the old people in power die off, BR will just have to accept this. It's like this in most small to mid sized towns in the South.

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Younger generations want this.

The old guard doesn't. Until the old people in power die off, BR will just have to accept this. It's like this in most small to mid sized towns in the South.

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I think all ages are begging for a traffic solution and that should be the #1 focus, not bike paths.

The interstate is 95% of the problem yet all we've been focusing on is surface streets. All we have to show for the interstate is 30 years worth of studies and millions in wasted public funds.