What's a carriage walk?

Never heard of carriage walks? You're not alone.

They are not public sidewalks. They are private walkways that connect the public sidewalk and the street curb. They are usually in parkways and other public right-of-ways. Many are made of concrete and resemble public sidewalks.

The Bloomington Public Works Department calls them "carriage walks" because of their original purpose: easing the process of entering and exiting a horse-drawn carriage.

Because of the length of time that carriage walks have been in existence, they are located in Bloomington's oldest neighborhoods.

Carriage walks are unique because they are not all the same, said Public Works Director Jim Karch.

"Some are stepping stones. Some are regular steps. Some are very new," Karch said. "Some are very historic in nature. There are some still with the hitching posts right beside them, and others that are in complete disrepair in our public right-of-ways."

Carriage walks in disrepair present tripping hazards and an uncounted number of carriage walks have steps with no handrails, according to a Public Works report.

The Americans with Disabilities Act and companion regulations called the Public-Right-of-Ways Accessibility Guidelines do not address carriage walks, but the cityattempts to remove or remedy safety problems in public right-of-ways.

Public Works began removing carriage walks as the department came across them in the course of repairing streets, sidewalks and other city infrastructure. A moratorium on their removal is in place pending a City Council review. A date has not been set for council discussion of the matter.

Continued here:
What's a carriage walk?