Jonathan Clemens, (Letters, 5 April) laments the lack of footpaths in Ocean Shores, citing a dearth of Council expenditure there, incorrectly comparing that with Mullum and Byron.
He needs to look further than his area. There are some footpaths in Ocean Shores; and Mullum’s, Brunswick’s and Byron’s CBDs have footpaths. Most of [the residential areas of] Mullum, Sunrise, Byron, Lilli Pilli and Suffolk don’t have footpaths.
All over the Shire’s roads, people are pushing strollers, children are walking to catch buses, elderly people are on four-wheel Harley Davidsons, tourists are dragging suitcases, athletes are jogging, and people are walking dogs.
Many suburbs don’t have the amenity Jonathan is focussing on. I was crossing a three-lane city road in Borneo recently, and all three lanes of traffic stopped for me, waiting, while I crossed. This driver culture exists here also. Drivers do look out for and are careful around people on the roads. That is a positive feature, but doesn’t account for cars parked on curving roads, non-local drivers, drivers under the influence, drivers speeding or people not paying attention to the road. It seems as though there is room for footpaths to be built on most of the verges.
It’s time to start a public committee to pressure Council. I think footpaths are in new DAs, but not in the old ones.
Be a squeaking wheel!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
