Sidewalks

To a total pedestrian like me "Who owns the sidewalks?" not an academic question. In Tainan most of the buildings are build right to the street interface except the ground floor which has the sidewalk that the rest of the building(2nd floor and up) overhangs. This sidewalk has a clear view end to end.

So does this one.

But not always, I guess if you own the building, the sidewalk is just your parking space.

Motorcycle shop always expand out onto the sidewalk.

As do eateries, it is just part of their business space.

Even residents just expand their living room to include the sidewalk.

Even a nice sign saying not to block the pedestrian exit is nothing.

I hear that in Taipei, parking on the sidewalk leads to a traffic ticket, but not in Tainan, some of the park cars have a pretty thick layer of dust so the sidewalk is also park of long term storage.

So whatever the law says means nothing if the law isn't enforced. For example in the US, I am sure there are plenty of laws saying bribery is illegal but Congressmen and Senators accept bribes all the time in the form of campaign contributions. And now the US Supreme Court says bribery by Corporations is legal too. Just another gift from the Bushes that just keeps on giving.

The Supreme Court is messed up on two counts:

1. Corporations are NOT people.
2. Money is NOT speech.