Ask Auntie, CNS Local Life, Caymanian statusI’m visiting Cayman and enjoying my time here, but I am struck by the lack of sidewalks in many places. The island is flat as can be, so pedestrians would not have any hills to contend with. It’s fine if you are walking in the Seven Mile Beach area but it seems if you venture too far away from that part of town, you are bound to find yourself hugging the side of the road as you try to avoid cars. As someone who likes to walk, I find this situation unfortunate at best and dangerous at worst. Why don’t you have more sidewalks in Cayman?


Auntie’s answer: I must start by saying that you are preaching to the choir here. I have long lamented the fact that Cayman seems to cater more to cars than people. When I am feeling most cynical I do muse that the philosophy here seems to be “Why walk if you can drive?” And the layout of the streets tends to support that feeling.

However, things are definitely improving. If you head over to the George Town waterfront, you will see a sidewalk (or pavement in British English) down a good part of it where none existed a few years ago. There is also a very modest 1,500-foot-long boardwalk on South Sound Road about to be completed literally any day now. Parts of Crewe Road have been widened to create a sidewalk plus a turning lane, though I can’t say if and when the whole road will get the same treatment. I also realise that is not exactly a tourist area, but it does show the government is thinking more about pedestrians in general.

Another positive sign is that bicycle lanes are being added to new and existing roads in many places; the reconstructed (but not quite finished) section of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway from the Butterfield roundabout to Camana Bay is one example.

But we clearly still have a long way to go in Cayman to make it a pedestrian-friendly place, which is a real shame. Decades ago when there were fewer cars and fewer people, this would not have been an issue. At this point, though, all we can do is keep trying to catch up, so that visitors like you can take pleasure in going out for a walk without running out of pavement.

Send questions to auntie@caymannewsservice.com

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