Yeah, it really should be a sidewalk

[from reader Herb C.]

With regard to the previous post on taking public space away from cars and giving it back to people: 

Here in Cleveland Park we're fighting the good fight to restore and pedestrianize the broad sidewalk on Connecticut that was destroyed in the 1960s to create the bizarre little service/parking lane that's now there. This block could be a vibrant public space with sidewalk cafés, etc. A recent poll on the CP listserv showed 2-to-1 support for the idea, although the usual suspects are unenthusiastic or opposed, on the grounds that our commercial strip can't survive without the couple dozen parking spots on the inside of the lane. 

The campaign is called "I Wish This Was a Sidewalk" (inspired by Civic Center's "I Wish This Was" project in New Orleans). 

http://www.iwishthiswasasidewalk.org

Please take a look and sign the petition if you're so inclined!