Pedestrian safety is a crucial concern for communities, but it is important to approach this issue with a focus on inclusive solutions rather than imposing strict bans, such as the one recently passed by the St. Louis County Council and ultimately vetoed by County Executive Sam Page. The intention to enhance safety is important, but the focus should be on creating accessible sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly spaces rather than solely resorting to strict bans, as Page pointed out when he vetoed the legislation.

The legislation, which was sponsored by 6th District Councilman Ernie Trakas of Oakville, proposed a ban on sitting, standing and walking in roadways if a sidewalk is available, with penalties for non-compliance. While the bill was introduced under the guise of protecting pedestrians, it failed to consider the needs and challenges faced by certain individuals.

One doesn’t have to even travel outside of Trakas’s own council district to see an example of a sidewalk that is available but not accessible for all. Along the west side of Lemay Ferry Road near Victory Drive, utility poles bisect narrow sidewalks, splitting them in half down the middle. Although that may not be an issue for most people who can walk around the utility poles, it presents issues for those who use wheelchairs or have other mobility concerns. The east side of Lemay Ferry has wide and accessible sidewalks, but for anyone on the west side, particularly those who use wheelchairs and live in the apartment complexes on that side, the only way to reach the accessible sidewalk is by directly crossing Lemay Ferry or riding in the street next to the curb to the closest crosswalk at Victory Drive. The sidewalk is intersected by utility poles all the way up to that crosswalk.

Under Trakas’s legislation, that area of Lemay Ferry would have been a “lose-lose situation” for wheelchair pedestrians, those pushing strollers or others with mobility aids. Pedestrian safety should take into account the needs of all community members.

Banning pedestrians from roadways without offering viable alternatives is not a solution. Instead, the focus should be on creating and maintaining accessible sidewalks for everyone, including those who use mobility aids, increasing crosswalks, installing traffic-calming measures and improving visibility at intersections. These measures can help enhance safety for pedestrians beyond legislation and penalties