Part 1, Chapter 3, The Use of Sidewalks: Contact Summary and Analysis

City sidewalks also serve a social function. They are places where people can meet and socialize. They are a place for public contact, where people can willingly engage in dialogue upon encountering one another. This camaraderie is not forced upon the locals by government, but is entered into willingly, and serves to enhance trust among those living in the neighborhood or those passing through as they conduct errands. The absence of this trust is considered by Jacobs to be a disaster for the city street.

City streets and sidewalks function as meeting places for people, especially when there are stores, bars, candy stores, etc. in the area. Trust is a necessary element if the streets are to be successful in their social function. The author uses as an example...