Make our pavements great again

Hello whoever might be out there, 

We need to make our pavements great again. If you know anything about me, you will know I am very protective over my pavements. I am a life-long pedestrian, my Mum doesn't drive and my Dad... Basically I have walked everywhere my entire life so I have been through the whirlwind known as the pedestrian experience.

Cyclists, dog walkers, cars. The trinity of kryptonite for the average pavement-user. An unparalleled rivalry spanning generations.

Cyclists belong on the road. That isn't even an opinion, it is written into law, and for a very good reason. The average cyclist can reach speeds of up to 20mph, the speed limit for residential areas. If a car were to come at you at that speed, you would rightfully be scared of being hit, so why is that any different for cyclists? We can't pretend that being hit by a bike doesn't hurt; wheels pulling at your skin, handlebars and pedals digging into your side, all with a human body on top. And it isn't just the danger they pose that annoys me, no, it's their entitlement. They wrongfully assume that ringing their little bell or asking for me to jump out of their way means they have the right of way, but they don't. They shouldn't be on the pavement in the first place. They have the ability to go into the road to overtake, but they don't because they know the cars won't cater for them, instead they prey upon the poor, vulnerable pedestrians. I don't move out of the way for bikes anymore, they can ring their bell as many times as they want, but I guess they'll just have to slow down and suck it up.

Dog walkers. I don't like dogs and I especially don't like their owners. Obviously this doesn't apply to every person with a dog, but there's a minority that ruins it for everyone else. Just today I was jumped at and barked at by two tiny, yappy dogs who the owner had no control of. I had already walked into the road to avoid the dogs on incredibly long leads once I saw them approaching me, and yet the owner did not catch on that I did not want their four legged creatures slobbering and sniffing me. "They're friendly", they call as their dog is trying to bite me, "they're just saying hello", as I cross the road to avoid them. Not everyone wishes to be attacked by your "best friend" and an apology goes a long way, but I would never get that. They believe their furry things have a greater right of way than me, and I will never understand it. They are self-absorbed and unaware that there is a world outside of their bubble.

Cars should never be on pavement. Ever. No cutting corners, no half-parking, no u-turns. I can't believe it is considered controversial to say this. It is very much illegal to drive on the pavement. Cars have already destroyed so much infrastructure, taking what was once pedestrian space to accommodate for their expanding size. So why, when we already have so little, do they want to take even more? They say they park on pavements to make space for emergency vehicles, but it is not the role of pedestrians to compensate for your inability to find a suitable parking space. The Guide Dog Association made a rather moving video about the consequences of pavement parking for disable people, even if you think you are only taking up a small curb, you are massively impacting the ability of disabled individuals to travel independently, not just walking along the pavement but also crossing roads, impacting the ability to see around blind corners and covering dropped curbs. It is selfish. Pavement parking may not be illegal yet, but I pose the question for those who partake in such selfish activity, how do you park on the pavement without driving on it?

Why can't people simply leave the pavement alone for those who rely so heavily on it?

Yours faithfully, 

MD

P.S This was for a writing class. And I really hate selfish people.