The News, Talk, Sights and Sounds of the Warfleigh Neighborhood

Sidewalks

OK friends...I am sure we all are aware of this but I just can't help but post this. I am extremely annoyed with the many people in our neighborhood who have not even attempted to clear their sidewalks. I realize that many of you will probably respond that you are elderly, disabled or otherwise injured and physically cannot do this very difficult job. For those people it is our responsibility as neighbors to help them out. Get to know your neighbors and help them out. Alternately, a teenager or college student who could use a few bucks could make a killing out there. I know people might respond that shoveling snow causes heart attacks. Again, if you have a heart condition find someone else to help you out or pay a younger, healthier person. Bake'em some cookies or knit them a hat if you don't have the means to continually pay people.

The reason why the city asks people to clear their sidewalks is numerous. I see it as a true hazard. Children have to wait for the bus on a corner covered with snow. People who must walk to work or school have to walk in the street. Even with boots it can be very difficult and downright treacherous to walk on the sidewalk when it is not shoveled. People with animals must walk them every day and it very difficult and consequently dangerous to walk in the street.

The city does not seem to enforce the ordinance, but here it is in case you are wondering what it says:

Sec. 431-106. Clearing snow and ice from sidewalks.

(a) The occupant of any premises, and the owner of any unoccupied premises, are required to keep the sidewalks in front of or adjacent to such premises cleared, so far as is practicable and reasonable, from snow and ice in order to facilitate pedestrian use of such sidewalks. The word "occupant," as used in this section, shall be deemed to mean the person occupying for business, residence or other purposes the first floor of any building situated on the premises so occupied; and if the first floor of any building is not occupied, then such premises shall be deemed and held to be unoccupied and the owner or lessee of the entire premises shall be required to keep the sidewalks in front of or adjacent to the premises reasonably cleared from snow and ice.

(b) In case snow or ice has accumulated or fallen on any sidewalk or is continuing to fall after 7:00 p.m., it shall be removed, if practical to do so, or a sufficient path be cleared by the occupant or owner before 9:00 a.m. of the following day. If any snow or ice has fallen or accumulated on any sidewalk after 9:00 a.m., it shall be removed or a path cleared by the occupant or owner by 7:00 p.m. of such day, if the snow has ceased to fall by that time. In either of the foregoing events, the occupant or owner shall be deemed and held to have complied with the provisions of this section.

(c)   Any person violating any of the provisions of this section, upon conviction, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00).

The next time it snows, please consider your neighbors and either get out there and shovel or find someone who can do it for you.

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Permalink Reply by rachel tomishima on February 13, 2010 at 8:53pm: Either my fiance, Jeremy, or I would be more than willing to shovel your sidewalks for free, no questions asked :)

Email me your address at rntomishima @ gmail . com
or call Jeremy at (eight one two) six zero three - one six one eight

We'll come do it asap.

-Rachel; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joe on February 14, 2010 at 2:29pm: I agree with the snow shoveling...it's paricularly annoying taking the dogs on walks and having from constantly shift from road to sidewalk to road to sidewalk .

The exception, IMHO, being the entire length of Riverview Drive: there is nothing between curb and sidewalk, so when the trucks plow, the snow piles up on the walk itself...it's near impossible trying to shovel that crap after even 1 night because everything has turned to ice. I think the "...if practical to do so..." line from part "b" above applies, especially considering I already shoveled the freaking walk 3 times, each followed by a run of the plows putting me back at square one.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jenny Hicks and Thomas Huggins on February 14, 2010 at 3:11pm: I agree. But there are many streets that don't ever see the plow in our neighborhood and thus, without the shoveling are impassable by human and beast.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp on February 16, 2010 at 6:17pm: I totally agree. I fell a year ago on ice and broke my leg, so I'm leery of walking on sidewalks that have not been shoveled. If our streets were cleared (what a concept!), then I could walk the dog in the street, but that is not an option.

I, too, would be willing to help clear sidewalks.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Griff on February 18, 2010 at 12:27am: I clear my sidewalk, maybe not immediately but when I can and I agree they should be cleared. However they are never impassable by man or beast. I struggle on my mountain bike when it gets deeper than 4 inches or so depending on the type of snow. Get a good pair or boots or a pair of ice shoes and all your worries will be over.; ▶ Reply to This

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