My name is Miguel Lopez, and I care deeply about the safety and accessibility of our community here in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Right now, key routes connecting our schools and Northern Regional Hospital lack continuous, safe sidewalks. This limits options for children who could walk or bike to school and creates unnecessary risk for patients, visitors, seniors, and anyone traveling to medical care.
Many families rely on buses or car pick-ups, but not every trip or every child has that option. Safe sidewalks would give kids the freedom to walk to and from school when it makes sense for their family, while also protecting everyone who needs reliable access to the hospital and clinics. No one should be forced to walk in the road or on narrow shoulders just to get where they need to go.
The lack of sidewalks is more than an inconvenience — it is a public safety issue. According to the National Complete Streets Coalition, pedestrian fatalities have risen significantly across the U.S. in recent years. Providing continuous sidewalks near schools and healthcare facilities is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk and make our community safer for everyone.
Investing in these sidewalks also brings broader benefits. It encourages walking, supports healthier lifestyles, improves accessibility for people with disabilities, and can increase foot traffic for local businesses. Communities that connect schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods with safe pedestrian routes become more livable and attractive places to live and visit.
We urge the City of Mount Airy, our Board of Commissioners, and city planners to prioritize continuous sidewalks along the critical corridors near our schools and hospital — especially along parts of US 601 and NC 89/103. Funding opportunities exist through state and federal transportation and safety grants that support exactly these kinds of community connections.
By signing this petition, you are standing up for safer options for Mount Airy’s children, better access to medical care, and a stronger, more walkable community. Please sign and share so we can show our local leaders that this matters to us.