KCRag Forum

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2011 6:19 pm**

In my neighborhood in the Old Northeast, my adjacent neighbors do a pretty good job shoveling right away. We all mow our yards within a day of each other as well.

Last week was the first time I had kids come to my door asking to shovel snow in the two years of snowstorms I've had at this house. I was thrilled to have them do it, and encouraged them to come back for future snows.

The problem is that there really aren't kids coming around to shovel snow anymore. When I was a kid, we fanned out as soon as the snow stopped to shovel because it was how we earned money. My parents didn't give allowances.

We have several old people living on my block that need their walks shoveled, but there aren't people to always do it for them. Sometimes I see other neighbors doing it for them after they finish their own. But I see plenty of walks unshoveled around the neighborhood where old people live.

I'm sure the old people would be thrilled to have kids do it, but there just aren't many kids doing it anymore. My mother always made me do it because she knew old people needed it done.

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:20 pm**

bahua wrote: 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.

The problem is having the owner or renter paying the bill. The city would have the upfront cost but if the bill isn't paid right away it just becomes a lien on the property, just like for weed cutting, and collected years later when the property sells.

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:27 pm**

Dcid should not be clearing sidewalks although they do a great job of trying. Love those kids.

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:57 pm**

would everyone expect a crossroads CID to do the same?

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2011 9:09 pm**

I would not expect any of them to clear sidewalks....maybe how dcid does it where they help bridge the cleaning between sidewalk and road for the ramps, etc.

I saw plows everywhere tonight between leaving working and then eventually walking home....I was impressed actually.

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:39 pm**

KCPowercat wrote: I would not expect any of them to clear sidewalks....maybe how dcid does it where they help bridge the cleaning between sidewalk and road for the ramps, etc.

I saw plows everywhere tonight between leaving working and then eventually walking home....I was impressed actually.

I had to drive home tonight from the Plaza. What typically takes 10 minutes tonight took 1.5 hours. It was awful and reminds me of why I truly hate the way we've developed our cities. I-35 was a parking lot.

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:05 pm**

smh wrote: I had to drive home tonight from the Plaza. What typically takes 10 minutes tonight took 1.5 hours. It was awful and reminds me of why I truly hate the way we've developed our cities. I-35 was a parking lot.

Just curious...how/why did you take 35 from the Plaza to the River Market? KCATA routes were only 15-30 minutes behind btw.

Posted: **Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:12 pm**

Heard our sidewalks being shoveled already....

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:28 am**

I drove home last night, and what usually takes 6 minutes took about 30. But most of that was close to the office, around the many many approaches and "sneak routes" to 35-S. Once I got past those, I was going 30-40mph.

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:20 pm**

bahua wrote: I drove home last night, and what usually takes 6 minutes took about 30. But most of that was close to the office, around the many many approaches and "sneak routes" to 35-S. Once I got past those, I was going 3000-4000mph.

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:26 pm**

Oh snap!

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:56 pm**

FangKC wrote:I'm sure the old people would be thrilled to have kids do it, but there just aren't many kids doing it anymore. My mother always made me do it because she knew old people needed it done.

There's this guy Doug who shovels around here for a few bucks. Sometimes I have him dig my car out. If you know of anyone with a few bucks to spare who needs their sidewalk shoveled, I'd be happy to let him know. The only catch is that I think he has a drinking problem, but he's a nice guy and does good work.

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:42 pm**

DaveKCMO wrote: would everyone expect a crossroads CID to do the same?

I have no problem shoveling the sidewalk in front of my business, I was happy to do it last night and today, and wouldn't expect a CID to be responsible for that.

However, as a bus rider, I would expect the city to clear a path to the bus stops, and maybe at least try to keep the shelters clean. Getting around and just getting to the stops last night and today was immensely difficult. The sidewalk running along Main St. over the railroad tracks hadn't been touched, and the MAX stop on the Plaza was so filled with snow and grime I was literally standing in the street waiting for the bus.

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:04 pm**

KC Sporting Life wrote:
and the MAX stop on the Plaza was so filled with snow and grime I was literally standing in the street waiting for the bus.

ATA responsibility not the city. ATA maintains the shelters.

Posted: **Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:17 pm**

Yeah twitter the metro, they are good at getting those cleared back off usually. It's a constant battle between business owners doing the sidewalks, city/county/state doing the streets, and ata doing the bus stops so there is a walkway from sidewalk to curb.

Walnut around 12th looks bad today.....problem is they haven't been able to clean off the parking lane yet.

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:16 am**

trailerkid wrote: Just curious...how/why did you take 35 from the Plaza to the River Market? KCATA routes were only 15-30 minutes behind btw.

SW Trafficway to i-35 is by far faster than taking stop and go Main Street. I don't agree with it, but our lack of density makes it possible and I'd rather get there in 10 minutes (more sleeping in) than the 40 minutes it takes MAX. I know, I'm a terrible person. I'm thinking of taking MAX soon, but I just started work and haven't worked it in just yet.

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:36 am**

I would like to take this opportunity to say that the city has pulled a complete 180 on the snow removal, this time around. At least downtown, the sidewalks and streets were cleared quickly and very well. Perhaps this was the city's bid for some kind of magazine ranking, but whatever the reason, great job, KC!

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:41 am**

Agreed.

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:32 am**

bahua wrote: I would like to take this opportunity to say that the city has pulled a complete 180 on the snow removal, this time around. At least downtown, the sidewalks and streets were cleared quickly and very well. Perhaps this was the city's bid for some kind of magazine ranking, but whatever the reason, great job, KC!

It's an election year.

Posted: **Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:10 pm**

Funk for mayor!!

KCRag Forum

Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.

Re: Shovel your whole sidewalk; not just your doorstep.