EDITORIAL: Investing in more sidewalks in Mount Pleasant is a good thing
Mount Pleasant has not put forth a considerable amount of funding toward new sidewalks since 2005.
And it shows.
There is nothing particularly notable about sidewalks in the 64.7 miles of sidewalk throughout the city.
But this will soon change: in 2014, rather than continuing to repair sidewalks, under its five-year capital improvement plan, Mount Pleasant has budgeted $100,000 for new sidewalks from 2014-17.
Unfortunately, this means there will be no more new sidewalks in 2013. This year, the city has $92,750 to use toward repairs as well as an additional $40,000 leftover from last year's budget. Most of this will go toward repairing handicap accessible ramps, and it should.
While a few cracks in the sidewalk are bothersome, handicap accessible ramps are more important. So, while it would be nice if the city could add new sidewalks this year, it is nice to know they have their priorities straight.
While sidewalks might not seem to be something worth a significant amount of funding, it is important to keep in mind that there are 64.7 miles of sidewalk in Mount Pleasant.
We use sidewalks more than we think. After all, this is a college town. Students use them to walk to class, work and places around town — at least in theory.
That's why it's wise that the city is investing in them. If nothing else, new sidewalks could mean at least a small boost in business for the restaurants and shopping places around town. Students without cars might be more inclined to take a stroll through town to find a place to eat or to shop, and students with cars that are turned off by high gas prices would be able to more easily find their way around town without driving.
And don't forget about the pros they present when it comes to the environment, too. By making it easier to walk around town, you can cut down on the number of automobiles — like the streets around town aren't busy enough during the school year — on the road. As a result, we would lower the amount of fumes that travel into the air.
But regardless of the positives that more sidewalks bring, it's nice to see the city show commitment to investing in them again. Even if it just means residents don't have to walk on grass or dirt to get to where they have to go.
