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Survey finds favor for Bainbridge Road sidewalks
(by Sue Reid - November 11, 2010)
Survey finds favor for Bainbridge Road sidewalks
By SUE REID
Based on input from residents on Bainbridge Road and in the contiguous neighborhoods, Solon Councilwoman Toni M. Richmond said she would recommend sidewalks on both sides of the road.
Ms. Richmond, who represents Ward 3, where the sidewalks would be located, presented findings of her survey of residents Monday to City Council's public works committee. She began her efforts this summer to poll every resident in the affected areas, she said, going door to door and leaving surveys for those who were not at home.
The decisions to be made, which ultimately lies with the city, are whether to put sidewalks on Bainbridge Road, east of Liberty Road, and whether the should be done in just certain sections.
Ms. Richmond said that her predecessor on council, John T. Scott, had indicated to the community that he would rely on input from residents along Bainbridge Road about sidewalks. She said she took a bit of a different approach and polled contiguous neighborhoods as well.
"More people on Bainbridge Road wanted the sidewalks than didn't want them," she said.
Just over 53 percent of residents polled desired sidewalks, she said, and nearly 47 percent opposed them. Overall, including the contiguous neighborhoods, a little over 74 percent of residents wanted sidewalks, she said.
Ms. Richmond said she received input from nearly 175 residents.
She said those who want sidewalks desire them overwhelmingly to be more connected in Solon and for safety reasons. "People said they feel it is dangerous to walk on Bainbridge Road without sidewalks," Ms. Richmond said. "People say they see children on the road and cringe because of the safety issue."
The committee moved to have the clerk send a memo of Ms. Richmond's findings and her recommendation to Councilman Edward H. Kraus, who represents Ward 6 in that area. It will ask for his opinion of whether sidewalks should be installed in phase one from SOM Center Road (Route 91) to Liberty Road with the project. The majority of that area had sidewalks prior to the start of the Bainbridge Road project.
Councilman Richard A. Bell commended Ms. Richmond for the "tremendous amount of work" she undertook to get the feedback.
"This really tells the story," he said. It is a "good survey that gives us an indication that the majority of people want sidewalks," he said.
Mr. Bell asked Ms. Richmond what the sentiment was of the residents she polled.
"People who did not want the sidewalks were passionate about not wanting them," she said. "Those who yell the loudest were not the majority."
City Engineer John J. Busch said that the engineering already is done for sidewalks on both sides of the road.
"It's just a matter of whether or not we will have them performed or not," he said. "If the ultimate decision of the city is to perform a portion of them, there are definitely some points where they could logically be stopped."
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