Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

[shinatoo]

Did it snow?

I got to get out more.

[mlind]

My sister used to live in Potomac MD.  Many years ago, there was a big storm.  Her son went outside to shovel and saw Arnold Schwartzeneger plowing the street in his Humvee.  The Shrivers lived nearby.

My ex-husband grew up in Western Michigan.  He always had to shovel and was really p.o.'ed that when he left home, his father bought a snow blower. 

As a kid, we always turned on the radio in the morning to see what schools were closed.  Snow days were a real treat.  We would bundle up and play outside.  We looked like that kid in 'A Christmas Story' who was so bundled up that when he fell down, he couldn't get up.  Our house always smelled like wet wool.

[drumatix]

I walked to work downtown today (just over a mile), and the shoveling situation is pretty dismal. I'd guess that one in thirty of the walks in front of homes and businesses had been cleared, and some of the parking lots had actually been cleared ONTO the adjacent sidewalks, covering them with a good 3' bank of snow.

I smell an untapped revenue stream...

[mean]

I make sure my sidewalk is cleared. The apartment buildings and house on either side of me don't, and afaict nobody else on the block does, either.

[DaveKCMO]

I walked to work downtown today (just over a mile), and the shoveling situation is pretty dismal. I'd guess that one in thirty of the walks in front of homes and businesses had been cleared, and some of the parking lots had actually been cleared ONTO the adjacent sidewalks, covering them with a good 3' bank of snow.

I smell an untapped revenue stream...

what was your route? did you have to cross truman?

[Northlander]

I walked to work downtown today (just over a mile), and the shoveling situation is pretty dismal. I'd guess that one in thirty of the walks in front of homes and businesses had been cleared, and some of the parking lots had actually been cleared ONTO the adjacent sidewalks, covering them with a good 3' bank of snow.

I smell an untapped revenue stream...

Last winter, I saw a business on Charlotte (just south of Truman) that routinely plowed their snow across the street and onto the sidewalk. It boggles my mind that any business who does this is not fined a large sum of money.

[trailerkid]

I can't get over this photo of the Dog Nuvo owners. 

[bahua]

It's a public safety issue, but leaving it to the public with no penalty for not complying is asking or exactly what we have now.

It would make sense to me if the city employed/contracted a large temporary shoveling brigade, and enforced the shoveling ordinance by taking note of who is not shoveling in a reasonable amount of time by sending their people over to shovel, at a punitive rate, which is then tacked onto the property owner's property taxes or utilities.

If you hit people in the wallet, they will fall in line.

[drumatix]

After covering another ten more miles of the downtown area on foot, I've discovered why the city will never be able to fine people for not shoveling. They'd look like hypocritical jerks for doing so (I realize there are probably plenty of other reasons).

Sidewalks on city-owned properties are some of the worst offenders that I'd seen, including sidewalks on bridges (forcing pedestrians to walk in the street), and in front of schools. Until the city gets its own act together, I actually hope that they don't start fining private property owners.

[KCPowercat]

State is responsible for bridges I believe Dave has indicated.

[bahua]

What properties downtown does the city own besides City Hall and parks?

[trailerkid]

Perhaps this specific issue (not the city clearing streets) should be brought up at a mayoral forum?

[drumatix]

What properties downtown does the city own besides City Hall and parks?

I'd assumed that they own all the bridges over freeways and train tracks, none of which had cleared sidewalks.

[WSPanic]

After covering another ten more miles of the downtown area on foot, I've discovered why the city will never be able to fine people for not shoveling. They'd look like hypocritical jerks for doing so (I realize there are probably plenty of other reasons).

Sidewalks on city-owned properties are some of the worst offenders that I'd seen, including sidewalks on bridges (forcing pedestrians to walk in the street), and in front of schools. Until the city gets its own act together, I actually hope that they don't start fining private property owners.

Didn't Lawrence, KS pull this crap last year after the Xmas storm? I thought people had received fines for sidewalks, while the city neglected theirs. I could be misremembering.

[splash]

It's a public safety issue, but leaving it to the public with no penalty for not complying is asking or exactly what we have now.

It would make sense to me if the city employed/contracted a large temporary shoveling brigade, and enforced the shoveling ordinance by taking note of who is not shoveling in a reasonable amount of time by sending their people over to shovel, at a punitive rate, which is then tacked onto the property owner's property taxes or utilities.

If you hit people in the wallet, they will fall in line.

I would be LIVID if I got hit with a fee for not shoveling my sidewalk when the city's answer to plowing my road is to wait for the snow to melt.

[bahua]

Agreed. Some basic services need to improve.

[DaveKCMO]

like all services, you do the best you can with what you've got... especially in areas where you can have a big impact. clearing some cul-de-sac for eight homes at NW 99th and gateview terrace (or whatever) isn't nearly as important as sidewalks connecting two of the city's most walkable (and walked) neighborhoods.

the city is responsible for clearing the 670 bridges. they actually did it during the last snowfall, albeit several days later.

[trailerkid]

Why couldn't the CID workers be involved with any of this? Are they around in the winter?

From Rieger's fb wall 20 minutes ago:

C'mon Crossroads Residents. It should be a beautiful night for a snowy stroll down here for a Pendergast and Charcuterie Plate. We'll make sure the sidewalk is shoveled and salted for you!

[loftguy]

Why couldn't the CID workers be involved with any of this? Are they around in the winter?

From Rieger's fb wall 20 minutes ago:

The CID folks are very involved in snow removal.  At least in RiverMarket and the downtown loop, I saw them cleaning around pedestrian crossings in gangs of 4 or 5.  Can't expect them to take care of all the sidewalks though. Especially those for which the city is responsible.

[zonk]

second that....the River Market CID does a decent job in at least trying to get out and shovel the intersections.  Maybe the RMCID and downtown CID should invest in a couple snow blowers?  couldn't you get one of those big industrial snow blowers and mount it to the front of the little trucks?