Blocking of El Camino Sidewalks Palo Alto Issues, posted by Wheelchair User, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Jun 10, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Many merchants along El Camino block the sidewalk with signs and merchandise. Some of the worst offenders are the sandwich shops and the florists. Barron Park Florist blocks the entire sidewalk in front of their store with heavy carts full of flowers and potted plants. Often leaning over precariously. They also often water them during the day making the sidewalk a slippery hazard. Are they allowed to block the sidewalk like this? Do they have some special permit? As a wheelchair user, I often have to avoid that part of the sidewalk as I cannot negotiate the space between the flower carts and the fire hydrants and street signs. Thanks for your help.
Posted by enough already, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Jun 10, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Have you tried calling or talking to the storekeepers? Were they willing to listen? If not, you might check with the "walkability" folks in city hall to get your pet problem areas on their radar. There was a front page article about them in Sunday's PA Daily.
Posted by A resident, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Jun 11, 2007 at 7:13 am
This is not permitted under our zoning codes. I know they have had problems downtown with similar displays outside shops. However, I have sympathy for the store owners; there is huge competition for customers. They say if one store puts merchandize on the sidewalk then all the stores must do it to compete successfully. It's a form of advertising.
Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jun 11, 2007 at 10:20 am
I hope folks of limited mobility as even I am sometimes would always carry a phone with them, and the non-emergency police number to report such barricades.
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