The Outraged Liberal gets outraged at overtired, unlicensed snowplow drivers and people who refuse to shovel their sidewalks:
... Clean sidewalks are just like other traffic and pedestrian laws -- ignored by authorities and therefore flouted by walkers. And sadly, even when people are dying, it's likely nothing will be done. ...
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Snow removal
By Some Assembly R...
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 9:34am
I want to get a snow blower so I can go and clear the sidewalks of the people in my neighborhood who don't shovel. I figure if I have to walk there every day to get to the bus stop, at least I'll know it's safe, and there's also the potential bonus of the (probably vain) hope that I might embarrass or shame them into doing it themselves.
The city should do it
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 9:41am
Then they should charge the property owner the cost plus a surcharge.
When the whining stopped, the walks would be clear. Cars are towed for snow emergencies, so why not remediate the problem?
Other cities do this for a number of reasons: trashy lots, etc. Then again, the city would have to take care of its own property.
Write Tom
By Bostonian
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 11:37am
This is a really good idea. For the cost of the snow blower, the fuel, and the city worker, the City would probably make a mint for a few years and then it would solve the problem. Write Tom. Can't you just picture him out there at the ribon cutting?
There is the rub
By BStu
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 1:06pm
The worst lots in Boston are actually city controlled. Most home-owners will shovel at least some of the time, but there are a lot of public controlled sidewalks in this city that never get touched, even in high traffic areas. Plenty of parks, obviously, but even traffic islands. The pedestrian island at Mass and Huntington is a good example. The one on the Back Bay side is regularly left horribly hazardous. I'm not sure if its the city's responsibility, but its clearly some government organization that feels no obligation to clear off a walk-way for people crossing a major roadway near major attractions.
Not that I haven't seen worse. When I lived in Malden, they didn't even do a good job shoveling out City Hall and never tried on any other city controlled sidewalks. Still, the city needs to get its house in order so it can take others to task.
Melrose has a sidewalk-width snowplow
By Lis Riba
Fri, 01/04/2008 - 12:13am
and does plow in front of our house and streets nearby.
Not sure what determines which streets they plow. I suspect it's some combination of (a) being on the main drag, (b) being near a school, (c) being near the train station.
However, the plow doesn't do a great job of removing the snow. In fact, it packs stuff down and makes what's left even harder to shovel...
So, be careful what you wish for.
or better just blow the snow
By pierce (not sig...
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 2:59pm
or better just blow the snow up against their front door or into their driveway
They should do sidewalk snow removal and road snow removal
By independentminded
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 1:17pm
throughout every town and city here in the Commonwealth. Too bad it takes a tragedy like this for people to see what can and does happen, and, even then, almost nothing gets done.
Beware of construction zones and snow
By Arborway
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 1:46pm
Because no one will bother to clear it.
I was headed down Green St. a few weeks ago, when I passed the two under-construction lots across from the park by the station, when I lost my balance on about an inch and a half of solid ice that covered the entire sidewalk.
I picked myself up, and made my way to the Orange Line platform, only to realize then that both of my hands were completely covered in blood. (Fortunately, it was mine ;) )
The CSR was more than willing to let me use the non-public bathroom to clean up a bit.