Mark over at the Kansas City Post has a good article on the need for our city's codes enforcement officers to enforce the city ordinance requiring residents to clear their own sidewalks.
Mark brings to light important points when it comes to keeping sidewalks clear for people who need to use the sidewalks to get to public transportation.
Our city is increasingly moving back to one that is more reliant on walkable neigbhorborhoods (walkable neighborhoods tend to increase home values) and higher use of public transit. If we are to be successful as a more pedestrian-friendly city, we all have to do our part in keeping our sidewalks cleared so the city can remain walkable even when it snows.
Being a pedestrian-friendly, transit-friendly city isn't something we can just do some of the time -- it is something we have to be all the time.
So not only is Mark right that we have to have our codes officials be more vigilant about enforcing the law, but we need citizens to do their part as part of a urban city.
If I had my choice, the sidewalk that surrounds my house would be removed. I don't care if you walk through 1" or 15" of snow. I would have to walk through it to shovel it. Since I live on a corner, many people choose to cut the corner even when the sidewalks are clear all year round...hence walking on my yard. If I can't fine them for trespassing I don't think I am responsible for how comfortable their walk is. If it bothers them, they can shovel it. It is not MY sidewalk anyway. Like I said, if it was mine, I would remove it.
Posted by: i.e. | January 11, 2010 at 03:33 PM
i.e.,
Actually it is your sidewalk. If and when it needs to be replaced you will have to pay for it. That's the way it's always been and is in most major cities.
Posted by: Mark | January 11, 2010 at 03:51 PM
That's the way it is in all cities and towns no matter how large or small. Shoveling snow isn't that big of a task to do 2-3 times a year. Sheesh.
Posted by: smh | January 11, 2010 at 05:00 PM
i.e., if you didn't want sidewalks, you should have bought property that didn't have them. I suppose you also believe that since God put the snow there, He'll take it away - and, therefore, you don't have to do anything with it. I suspect that you'd also sue the property owner if you fell down while walking on someone's unshoveled sidewalk. Must be tough being so hypocritical all of the time.
Posted by: InsideBub | January 12, 2010 at 06:30 AM
Actually, I wouldn't sue someone because I fell down (but nice assumption). I typically am a responsible person. I think I am responsible for my own well being, meaning I don't expect you to do anything for me. I go to work, I pay my bills - which means, oh no, I can't have everything I want or that someone else has. I make responsible decisions. Which if I had to walk in snow, would include buying snowboots. And God (or at least the sun) will remove the snow, it melts.
You do not know me and you can attack my opinion if you want...but it does not change my opinion...or make me hypocritical.
Posted by: i.e. | January 12, 2010 at 10:31 AM
True, I am responsible for caring for property that is not my own, but I don't technically own a portion of the property. The city owns a few feet in from the road, including the area the sidewalk is on (which is why I can not have it removed)...at least all my property papers told me so when I bought my house.
Posted by: i.e. | January 12, 2010 at 10:34 AM
i.e.
It's the law. You can complain about it and claim it's not fair which is your right. But in all your due diligence when you bought your property you neglected to check this:
Sec. 64-246. Removal of ice or snow.
It shall be the duty of all persons owning or occupying any real property, fronting upon any street, boulevard or highway, to remove from the sidewalks in front or alongside of such property all ice and snow within a reasonable time after cessation of a storm depositing such ice or snow. The provisions of chapter 62, article III, pertaining to littering, and penalties for violations thereof, shall be applicable to violations of this section.
Posted by: Mark | January 12, 2010 at 02:19 PM
Not denying it is the law, but I also know it isn't really enforced...and hasn't been in any city that I have lived (where I usually rented and it would have been the landlords responsibility, yard care was in the lease) Within a 5 block radius of my house, there is not a single sidewalk that is shoveled. Oh the poor, poor children that have to walk to a school bus or those dog walkers that have to walk their dogs (or anyone else that has walked on the sidewalk and trampled the snow - those are just the ones I have seen). I just think it is a ridiculous law. I'm sure that not shoveling snow - which is melting - is not the only law I do not follow.
Posted by: i.e. | January 14, 2010 at 08:12 AM
You obviously don't walk.
Posted by: Thomas | January 14, 2010 at 04:48 PM