Why not have grass paths instead of concrete sidewalks?

Question

I was walking home today on the sidewalk and thought of the idea of having grass paths instead of concret sidewalks. Like, where the sidewalk is just has the grass either mowen lower or has a little bit of gavel with the grass. It could be the same width as a sidewalk but would be better for the environment. Does anyone else think this is a good idea? I think out world is turning into a concrete place and we need to change that.

Answer 1

well, it's a beautiful vision, for sure...but perhaps not very practical...that grassy path will not stay grassy for very long with people walking in the same place all the time...it will be dirt before long, then mud when it rains...then it will get rutted and be very hard to walk on, as it would be hard to walk on a gravel path (thinking of clumsy folks like myself, who would sprain an ankle for sure if i had to walk on paths like that all the time, especially in shoes that aren't meant for hiking!)

Answer 2

Because concrete stands up to lots of foot traffic much better than grass.

I'm sure you've noticed the same thing -- they make a sidewalk or walkway somewhere, but the students cut the corners and what happens -- all the grass dies, and you're left with beaten dirt. On rainy days that dirt turns into mud, so people walk along the sides, widening the dead zone.

So concrete sidewalks are actually, in some ways, better for the grass and the environment.

Answer 3

Grass cannot take being constantly walked on. You can see this anywhere there is no sidewalk but people walk there anyway. In that case, you can see a path of bare dirt where all the people have been walking. Look around and you will see these paths usually in weedy areas near parking lots or walk ways. Grass can take a small amount of foot traffic, which is why the lawn in front of your house looks green, but too much and the grass dies. That is why they sometimes have "keep off the grass" signs in some places. Because the owners of the grass don't want dirt paths worn into it by too much foot traffic.

Answer 4

Did it occur to you that people who use wheelchairs, or walkers/canes--need sidewalks?

Taking care of the environment means first and foremost, using some common sense. If you want to cut the amount of concrete and asphalt--fine. But try finding ways to stop paving more and more land for roads--for instance, promoting expanded mass transit systems. That will do more good than the relativel small amount of space you'd save by eliminating sidewalks.

Also--did you stop to think how much water it would take--unless you use grasses native to an area, most of which are not suitable for a walking path. And how do you keep the high traffic areas from dying due to large numbers of people walking on them?

Answer 5

Well grass paths (sidewalks) would eventually become dirt paths, depending how much traffic. And if that happens when it rains you'll be walking on mud instead of grass. That's a problem.

Answer 6

Because with even just a moderate amount of foot traffic the grass would die and you would be walking in mud instead.

Answer 7

You don't have to mow concrete. Also, I think it would be a problem for people in wheelchairs or even people pushing strollers.