As Denver’s population grows, the City must provide the basic infrastructure that allows people to safely and easily get around.

Walkable neighborhoods with good sidewalks are the foundation of a complete transportation system that offers practical options including: transit, walking, biking, car share, ride share, bike share, and driving a personal vehicle.  

Good sidewalks are particularly important for the one-third of the population that doesn’t drive due to age, disability, or income.

Currently Denver property owners are responsible for building and maintaining sidewalks adjacent to their property.  Sidewalk repairs can cost a property owner thousands of dollars.

Lax enforcement of the current sidewalk policy means that many Denver neighborhoods have substandard or no sidewalks at all.   

A fee of $5-$10 per month (for an average property) would provide a sustainable funding source for building new sidewalks, repairing old sidewalks, and upgrading substandard sidewalks throughout Denver.

I therefore join with WalkDenver in calling upon the City and County of Denver to assume responsibility for building and repairing sidewalks, and to establish a dedicated funding source (such as a property fee) for this purpose.