Why are sidewalks in American cities elevated?

Question

Self-explanatory

Answer 1

Couple of reasons:
1.) cars are less likely to drive up onto them
2.) fewer deep puddles (plus the edges of streets usually dip down on the edges so water does't stand on them either.

Answer 2

Actually they are elevated all over the world for the same reason-they create a curb so that water can drain when it rains. If they were not elevated you would have a complete mess when you get rain, especially heavy rain. Also they create a safety for pedestrians by alerting drivers that they are against the curb when they are parking. The border on the inside of the curb also holds the street together so that it won't crumble on its sides. That edging goes down into the ground over a foot......The side walk builder....KECK

Answer 3

Probably so if the drains (seen at the side of the sidewalks before they become elevated) become flooded they flood the street and not the sidewalk making it easy and safe for pedestrians to walk to their destinations. Also it's incredibly painful if you're wearing high heels and you get your heel caught in one of those things.

Answer 4

Wow you acquire some harsh solutions. no person seems to understand that your only comparing them, detrimental to declare its african... Anywho, I thoroughly see your element. yet Africa is lots worse off. i replaced into surfing around interior the Cape city shuttle spot right here on Yahoo solutions and theres actually alot of those that stay in that city who as quickly as darkish hits they lock their doorways, and sit down interior on the settee with pepper spray or in step with danger a gun. No shaggy dog tale, I heard this from 2 diverse solutions. night may well be slightly iffy for Detroit... you won't opt for to pass wandering around, exceptionally in case you don't understand the section... yet that doesn't even evaluate to Cape city. i did not think of the HIV fee replaced into intense in Detriot? Thats information to me. yet c'mon, its Africa we are conversing approximately... no person will ever outbeat thier HIV probabilities. No offence to Africa or something, yet its real. As for the crime, you're suitable. Detroit does have the utmost. the main? No. however the utmost in step with capita... which does make it the worst. final I examine the Black inhabitants there replaced into 88%... did it pass down i ask your self? Cuz you're asserting eighty%. And convinced, Detroit has very deteriorated, yet they are engaged on construction it decrease back up. surely I overlook what financial company yet some financial company only gave the city of Detroit a million this 3 hundred and sixty 5 days to initiate getting issues decrease back on course. What i actually think of could help Detroit is get some important production unit or franchise in there. That'd provide alot of human beings jobs and not all human beings could be so damaging and annoying off. to not point out it may bring up the complete city altogether which might create extra tourism. yet its the case of having a important company in there. unsure who the corporate Developer in Detroit is yet he/she desires their butt fired and someone which could do the job put in there!

Answer 5

Bugs, (most bugs) like the dirt and stay off the hard sidewalk.
Snakes feel uncomfortable on sidewalk.
Sidewalks are higher and easier to clean.
The final answer is that the US is sanitary.

Answer 6

So water will stay / travel in the gutters , not the walk.

Answer 7

so the cars dont drive up on them and block them

Answer 8

didn't you watch the JETSONS when you were younger????
soon we will be in flying cars!!

geez