It's an alley, not a sidewalk. You used it because it was shorter than going along the sidewalk, not because it was the main route. If it was the main route, everyone would use it and it wouldn't be convenient anymore--because everyone would use it. Then you'd have to find another shorter route, which would be where the merchants were sticking all their empty boxes and making deliveries, precisely because NOBODY WAS WALKING THERE.

I suppose if these people wanted to cut through the kitchens, they'd be upset at all the food and hot stoves there, and ask that cooking only be done at certain times of day, because of the health hazards?

RabidJade: I wish people in the US would get off of this "it's old so it needs changed regardless of how or why" trip.

We've been through this once before, in the 60's and '70's when all of the downtown areas (at least in the midwest) had 'modern' facades applied to 19th century commercial buildings, along with the sidewalk overhangs that were designed with by brutalist architects, because it was the style of the time.

/The southwestern city I now live in just spent a few million to get rid of the overhangs and facades.

I live in a fairly new subdivision that has an alley where all the trash cans and garages are located. It's strange to see an old layout done with new houses.

Alleys should be as walkable as anything else. Cities should be built around foot traffic. The entire reason people organized into cities is so that everything important is a short walk away. That's what cities are for.

While they don't need to be the prettiest things, they do need to be even and navigable.

Damn it, I like alleys BECAUSE they're dirty and totally lacking in aesthetic charm.

We have some quite picturesquely filthy ones here in Kern County.