Sidewalk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about walkways, for other uses, see Sidewalk (disambiguation).
A sidewalk (chiefly North American English), pavement (British English), footpath (Australian English) or footway (Engineering term) is a path for pedestrians that is situated alongside a road or formed like sidewalks that are alongside roads (such as a cement footpath through a park). They are usually constructed of concrete (particularly in the United States and Canada), asphalt, brick (particularly in Europe), stone or (increasingly) rubber, designed for pedestrian traffic and often running alongside a road. In the 19th century and early 20th century, sidewalks of wood were also common in some locations. They may still be found at historic beach locations and in conservation areas to protect the land beneath and around, called boardwalks. Stone slabs called flagstones or flags are often used where an attractive appearance is required, as in historic town centres. In other places, pre-cast concrete slabs (called paving slabs or, less correctly, paving stones) are used. These may be coloured or textured to resemble stone.
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[edit] Geography and history of sidewalks
Sidewalks are more common in modern urban areas, where they may abut the road, than in suburban areas, where they are sometimes separated from the road by a tree lawn (depending on available spaces and prior urban planning). Sidewalks are rare in rural areas. In some countries, such as the United States, sidewalks are sometimes constructed on private land that the government has obtained an easement to use. Ordinary responsibility for maintaining safe passage of the public, such as snow and ice removal, remains with the property owner.
In some jurisdictions, shared use facilities specifically designed to serve both pedestrian and bicycle traffic have been installed in place of sidewalks.
Sidewalks vary in width, depending on traffic in the area, though are generally wider than 4 ft (1.3 m). Often that is too narrow however, particularly when obstructions are placed on the sidewalk (street lights, traffic signal poles, news stands, road signs, fire hydrants etc.), or if bicycles use the facility.
Most western countries have a policy about the removal of so-called "architectural barriers" in order to reduce the difficulties for disabled people, and these policies usually reserve a great attention to sidewalks. The Americans with Disabilities Act, like other rules in other countries, requires sidewalks to have curb cuts at intersections so that sidewalks can be used by persons in wheelchairs.
There is usually a gutter between the sidewalk and the road, and the sidewalk surface is slightly tilted to let the water flow into the gutter.
[edit] Construction of sidewalks
Sidewalks are most often made of cement. Multi-use paths are often made of asphalt or other materials that are softer than cement. While sidewalks can be made of gravel, wood, rubber, and other materials, such paths are usually not called sidewalks. Brick and stone are also common. A sidewalk is often built where a dirt path existed before. The most common sidewalk construction (pictured) is made of cement sections that are about 1 meter long and butted up against each other. One of the reasons sidewalks are not constructed in longer sections is that the earth often moves beneath the sidewalk enough to seriously crack it over a large length; whereas if there are sections then just some of the sections can move, leaving the others intact.
