In my previous article, we deconstructed the design of the continuous sidewalk—a simple but powerful tool that flips the street dynamic by prioritizing the pedestrian’s journey over the car’s. We established why it’s a superior design for safety, accessibility, and building a people-first community.
Now that we have a shared understanding of the concept, it’s time to move from theory to practice. The critical questions become: Where does this design already exist in our communities, and where in Orléans can we apply this blueprint to begin retrofitting our own neighbourhoods to prioritize the safety and comfort of pedestrians?
Continuous Sidewalks in Orleans Now
This example isn’t exactly what a ‘continuous sidewalk normally means (this is technically a raised pedestrian crossing mid-block), but it serves the same purpose, of making the crossing safer for pedestrians and cyclists by physically forcing drivers to slow down and pay attention. Adding the curb bump-out here on the right helps to narrow the roadway, making moving quickly through this space feel less comfortable.
Half-measures (We Can Do Better)
In this example, you can see that the sidewalk stretches the entire length of the intersection, which certainly gives a visual indication that this is a pedestrian’s space. However, because there is nothing to actually slow cars down, this doesn’t do much more than a painted crosswalk, though it won’t wear out like paint will.
This is a connection between a local street and an arterial road, and the main issue here comes down to the fast-moving traffic on Jeanne d’Arc and the very wide road meaning pedestrians are vulnerable in the intersection for a very long time. Having a raised crossing here would certainly help local foot traffic be safer next to cars going 60 and often faster as this is right at the top of a hill.
Where Continuous Sidewalks Are Needed
Streets near schools and parks are great candidates for continuous sidewalks. The fabric of our communities is torn up by roads like Voyageur that often don’t feel safe to cross (especially for kids) because it’s just so easy to speed through the community without thinking about it.
Through the months of May and June 2025, I was doing regular bike counts at the racks at des Voyageurs school, visible just out of frame on the left of the photo above. Almost every day, there were over 40 bikes parked there, such that it was hard to find a space to park if you weren’t early (I’ve reached out and the school is apparently getting more racks…sometime).
Some days there were almost 50 bikes, and even on rainy days there were still 25-30 bikes parked. With a school population of about 330 students, that means anywhere from 10-15% of the student body were cycling to school on a regular basis, and sometimes more. I would love to see how many students we could get biking to school regularly if we actually took street safety seriously in my neighbourhood.
We’re going to be highlighting this need with a Kidical Mass family bike ride through this exact area on September 27, 2025, I hope you can make it out, and reach out if you’re interested in volunteering!
Why Do All These Changes?
This single design change fundamentally rebalances the street. It establishes the continuous path as the default for people, while cars, appropriately given their relative speeds and vulnerability, are the ones whose journey is momentarily interrupted. It subtly and effectively reclaims our residential streets as shared public spaces, designed for the people who live on them.
Support The New Orleans
The benefits are twofold. First, it makes our neighbourhoods safer. By slowing cars at natural conflict points, we reduce the risk of accidents without dotting our streets with jarring, isolated speed bumps. Second, it begins to stitch our communities back together. A park on one side of the street and a playground on the other are no longer separate destinations requiring a formal road-crossing manoeuvre; they become a single, connected zone that encourages spontaneous play and social interaction. This is how we begin to combat the suburban isolation that many of us feel.
This approach is a perfect example of the Less Car philosophy in action. It’s not about being anti-car; it’s about being pro-people. It is a pragmatic, incremental improvement that makes choosing to walk or bike for short trips slightly easier and more pleasant. Over time, these small nudges are critical for shifting our habits away from total car dependency.
Furthermore, this is a fiscally prudent investment that aligns with the Strong Towns movement’s core principles. The most logical and cost-effective time to implement an unbroken path is when a street or sidewalk is already scheduled for reconstruction. For a marginal additional cost, we can embed massive long-term value, safety, and quality of life into our public infrastructure.
The neighbourhoods we have today are the result of decades of specific policy and design choices. But that means we can make new choices. We can start with small, smart interventions like the unbroken path. I encourage you to talk to your neighbours, your community association, and your city councillor. The next time a street in your area is up for renewal, ask a simple question: “Can we make the sidewalk continuous here?”
By asking for these small changes, we can begin to retrofit our suburbs, one path at a time, into the safer, more connected, and more vibrant communities we all want to live in.
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