My neighbor runs an EV charging cord across the sidewalk overnight. How do I raise the hazard without sounding anti-EV?

Most nights, an orange charging cord runs from the house across the public sidewalk to the electric car parked at the curb.

The owner covers part of it with a black rubber ramp. The ramp is low, but it does not reach the full width of the sidewalk, and the cord sometimes curves out at one end. I first noticed it while walking after dark. My shoe caught the edge, and I stumbled without falling.

Since then I have watched a parent steer a stroller around it and an older neighbor step into the street rather than cross the ramp. I do the same when I remember. When I forget, the bright cord appears under the streetlight at the last second.

The neighbor bought the car recently and seems proud of it. We spoke once while he was washing it, and he explained that his driveway is too short to charge there without blocking the garage. I did not mention the sidewalk because the cable was not out at the time and I had not yet tripped.

I want to raise the issue without turning it into a debate about electric cars, street parking or whether the ramp is technically sufficient. I do not know the local rules, and I am not looking to play inspector. My concern is simpler: the setup changes the walking surface every night, and people are avoiding it.

Part of me thinks I should speak directly before contacting anyone else. Another part worries that a polite conversation will leave me responsible for deciding whether his next setup is safe. I am not qualified to approve cable covers.

There may be options I have not considered, such as a different parking position or a professionally installed approach. I do not want to recommend equipment or promise that a fix is acceptable. I just want him to understand what pedestrians are encountering.

The sentence I have drafted is: “I caught my foot on the cord cover last week, and I have seen people step into the street around it. Could you find a setup that keeps the sidewalk clear?” It is direct and may sound like a demand to stop charging entirely.

Would you start with that conversation, ask a local non-emergency office about requirements first, or notify the property owner if he rents? How do I report an observable safety concern without pretending I know the technical or legal solution?