On Saturday, September 27, while walking through the Villa Santos neighborhood in Barranquilla, I encountered a situation that illustrates our city's challenges in terms of public space: a crew from the Air-e company was pruning and had left large branches on the sidewalk, completely blocking access.
Given the obstacle, I had to swerve into the roadway, exposing myself to the risk of being hit by a car. I decided to stop and speak to the workers, explaining that even though the branch-harvesting crew was nearby, a few seconds of exposure was enough to cause an accident.
I pointed out that moving the branches to one side of the sidewalk would have been enough to keep pedestrians safe without affecting their work. It was an opportunity to remember the importance of putting ourselves in the shoes of others, in this case pedestrians, and understanding that small acts of consideration can prevent tragedies.
This episode not only reflects the difficulties of managing urban trees and electrical wiring, but also invites us to consider civic education and sustainability. Walking through the city should be safe and enjoyable, and achieving this requires both adequate infrastructure and awareness among every actor in public space.