Most sidewalks are located in front of neighborhood homes. These walkways are not designed for exercise alone. They give the public a safe place to walk, especially when roads are slick. Unless the concrete is buckled and broken, sidewalks are not unsightly, unsafe or undesirable. Homeowners with children want a safe place for their kids to walk, ride bikes, skate and more.
Utilities are located on public easements, and homeowners must make sure that fences, sheds, gardens and other belongings and structures are not located on municipal land. In many neighborhoods the utilities are behind houses because they are not aesthetically pleasing. No one is impressed by ugly green metal posts.
Hidden Sidewalks
In a small percentage of neighborhoods, sidewalks appear to be non-existent. I lived in my rented home for many months before realizing that approximately a mile of sidewalks ran behind the homes across the street. I could see one walkway that led up to a row of community mailboxes, but I thought that it ended.
I found a literal maze of concrete public sidewalks, and I was absolutely thrilled. I could not wait to begin walking on these amazing public sidewalks behind the homes in my neighborhood. They are quite extensive, and I imagined becoming turned around in between rows and rows of homes while walking my little dog. I was no longer happy or excited after realizing the cons of having sidewalks behind neighborhood homes. My walks are never peaceful or without concern.
A Plan Gone Awry
When my neighborhood was drawn out, the developer envisioned homes facing a maze of seemingly endless sidewalks, but homeowners and builders did not follow protocol. All of the homes were built facing the street. The sidewalks behind the houses have created a myriad of problems. Although I use these hidden sidewalks behind the homes in my neighborhood, it is not without trepidation.
Landmines of Broken Glass
When considering sidewalks behind neighborhood homes, think again if the houses will face the street. As the photo shows, the walkways behind the homes in my neighborhood are littered with broken glass. Most of the shattered glass seems to come from beer and alcohol bottles. The glass makes it dangerous to walk a dog or wear open-toed shoes.
A Maze of Mean Dogs
My family and I have been approached by dogs many times, and they were not behind fences. On one occasion, what looked like a boxer mix approached my young daughter. I thought that it was going to bite her after she ran, but thankfully the owner heard the commotion and retrieved his dog. We never know if dogs are loose when taking walks behind the homes in our neighborhood. In any case they are never quiet. The continual barking, snarling and growling ruins our walks.
Overgrown Brush, Thorns, Burrs and Noxious Weeds
As another one of the pictures shows, not every homeowner takes pride in their property. I cannot walk my dog in the area shown in the first photo without finding burrs in between the pads of his feet. This area is public easement, but the homeowner is expected to maintain the property. My family and I can barely make our way along this stretch of sidewalk since brush covers most of the walkway.
Trash Everywhere
Sidewalks behind neighborhood homes are neglected in other ways as well. As another one of the photos shows, trash is strewn everywhere. Homeowners obviously neglect the easement, even though it visible from their property. Some take pride in the portion of their yard that faces the street, but they could care less about the back.
The Perfect Place for Crime
My town is generally peaceful, and crime is low. If crime was a problem or a concern, I would never walk the hidden sidewalks behind the houses in my neighborhood, not even during daylight hours. Areas between privacy fences and bushes are the ideal places for predators to hide. Unlike public sidewalks in view of the road, I would never use these hidden walkways after dark. They are nothing more than alleyways without gravel or pavement.
Lazy and Uncaring Homeowners
Walking the public sidewalks behind the homes in my neighborhood has been a real eye-opener. Most people do not have as much as a glimpse into local backyards, but in my seemingly mid-class neighborhood, negligence abounds. As previously mentioned, broken glass is scattered all over the sidewalks, trash is strewn everywhere and brush and weeds have overtaken the backsides of many privacy fences that should have been ripped down and replaced years ago. Sidewalks behind homes are not a pleasant place to walk – at least not in my neighborhood.
Source: Personal Experience and Observations