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A couple planning to move to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) next year have been exploring various neighborhoods in the city and its suburbs. They currently reside in a 70s era suburb with sidewalks, where they enjoy daily walks with their dog. However, they’ve noticed that sidewalks seem to be a rarity in most MSP suburbs, particularly those with houses from the 50s/60s era. This observation has sparked their curiosity, leading them to wonder if there’s a specific reason behind this absence of sidewalks. They initially speculated that it might be due to the snow, as maintaining clear sidewalks in winter could be a burdensome task for both the city and homeowners.
Answers from Social Media
The couple’s query prompted a lively discussion on Reddit. One user pointed out that suburbs that were once independent small cities before being absorbed often have sidewalks, citing Wayzata and Hopkins as examples. Another user noted that while main suburb streets typically have sidewalks, neighborhood streets often don’t. The reason being, it’s generally accepted that walking on the edge of the street is fine and sidewalks require maintenance and take up front yard space…