No Sidewalks Please

I think building sidewalks on Main St. would be a very bad idea. They would detract from the relaxed, rural charm of the street and increase ambient noise levels by reflecting noise from passing cars. Sidewalks would also create a serious tripping/broken ankle hazard especially for the elderly and would also present an obstacle for wheelchair users. Large puddles will form in between the sidewalk and the street-level building entrances during heavy rains and spring thaw, wrecking foundations and water could even seep into the some of the businesses themselves through their front doors. If you could magically elevate every building on Main St. by 6 or 8 inches to accommodate the raised pedestrian surface, sidewalks might work, but as it is they will just make everything worse.