I guess from the photo above you can see that planners for the Dobbin Center thought everyone coming to the Center would drive there. For one of the most used shopping centers in Columbia it is impossible to walk around the entrance to the Center.
I frequently run in this area and it definitely is a challenge for anybody on foot in this area. Above you can see how the sidewalk ends short of the entrance to the Center. I am not sure they were concerned about cutting down the trees after this point and I would assume that these trees were planted when the Center was built.
The Dobbin Road path that CA built that runs parallel to Dobbin Road turns away from the Center as shown above.
The try crossing this area is taking your life in your hands as drivers are not always looking at this crosswalk area but looking at traffic on Route 175 with which they will be merging.
As bad as it is for walkers and runners along Dobbin Road the lack of bike lanes on Dobbin create scenes like the one above for bikers.
P.S.
From the Howard County Library:
Enchanted Garden Club. Discover the joys of gardening. Learn gardening basics, grow flowers and vegetables from seeds, and help plan and maintain beds in our Enchanted Garden. Ages 9-11; Registration and signed release form required. Follow the link for dates, times and to register.
http://bit.ly/W9QIl9
Jessie Newburn was railing about the lack of walkability here some time ago. I understand the Rouse Company became dismayed with how the Dobbin/Snowden River area developed. It will take a lot of work and attention to humanize this area, although it could happen when businesses find they have to compete with a walkable downtown.
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