It's a fair question, given that we see snow at least a few times every year, and given that the first snow of the season seems to always leave side streets clogged with frozen slush for at least a day or two. More if you live high enough up.
Both the City and the District can tell you how they plan for plowing and salting - but a nice colour coded chart doesn't help you to get out of your driveway and off to work.
Oh well, if it makes drivers feel a little bit better, it's worth noting that bike lanes don't get much attention either, and sidewalks are pretty much entirely ignored.
Maybe because the District doesn't even have a bylaw requiring people to shovel their walks?
Really, none of this is intended to complain about the people at the City and District who have been working so hard this week to keep us all moving. They work hard this time of year, and deserve all of the thanks that they get, but are there things we could do to help them do the job better, and make the people who rely on them happier?
16 comments:
My biggest gripe is against businesses, home owners and condo/apartment blocks that don't clear their walks. Mondays snow turned to slush and then froze, making the sidewalks difficult to negotiate all week. Thanks to those people who feel they aren't obliged to keep their sidewalks clear. I watched one senior woman walking down the middle of the street because the sidewalk was, for her, impassible. To those people who can't be bothered, show some responsibility. And this in the City where a bylaw requires property owners to keep walks clear. Maybe it's time for some enforcement and fines to remind people of their obligations.
I agree that homeowners should keep their walk or front boulevard clear. I did mine yesterday and I'm at the end of a cul-de-sac so the only users are the postman and raccoons.
However, municipal crews are out there working around the clock and the main arteries have been kept open and secondary streets as crews are available. This seems like a measured approach.
Bike lanes not cleared? Boo hoo. You would have to be a fool to ride a bike in the slush that was falling.
I'm satisfied with the response.
What use is it to shovel your sidewalk, only to have a snowplow come by dumping the snow from the road back onto it?
So pedestrians can pass without slipping and falling? Because it's the right thing to do?
The priority is always the automobile. The DNV doesn't really care about pedestrians. When there is snow, it is plowed onto the sidewalks.
Of course the priority is the automobile. How do the police, fire or ambulance get anywhere to help people? How do all of the goods and services that we require get to our community?
One day of snow and it's too hard to shovel your walk after the plow goes by? We are an entitled people.
What about the many senior who live in Lynn Valley? Many were sold their property using the phrase: A pedestrian-oriented town centre. How is the DNV helping seniors get around in this mess by plowing snow onto sidewalks? Are the seniors supposed to walk on the roads? For that matter, are we all supposed to walk on the roads?
Bus route sidewalks should be shoveled by the municipality. Plain and simple. Go get four or five of those ride'm industrial snow blowers and take staff who are twiddling their thumbs when it snows (Parks staff?), and train them how to clear a sidewalk.
Do it right.
Property owners have been responsible to shovel (or have someone shovel) their sidewalk or road frontage for decades. Do it yourself or get a local kid. Parks lays off their temps during the winter.
Nanny staters - there is a limit to entitlement for you and tax increases for all. Every now and then we need to take on personal responsibility.
A one day snowfall is hardly a big deal. Big an adult and cope.
Good comment about pedestrian-oriented town center in Lynn Valley. The Lynn Valley Town Center Flexible Framework was approved by council in October 2013. Since that time there has not been even 1 mm of improvement to pedestrian ingress and egress throughout the town center despite the completion of three major projects: (1) Old Mill; (2) Sunnyhurst townhouses, and (3) Canyon Springs, with (4) Walter's Place a few short months from completion. The DNV did not even require the developer to build sidewalks at Sunnyhurst despite Mike Little raising the lack of sidewalks and the absence of stop signs during the approval process. The street lights were not improved at 29th and Lynn Valley Drive as promised. As predicted, a fatality occurred there last month. As for pedestrian-oriented, the refresh of Edgemont Village has created a pedestrian mine field. No sane person would walk in the area. Pedestrian oriented is simply an empty platform for selling density and height just like the unfilled promise of adding Lynn Valley Town Center to Translinks Frequent Transit Network, a commitment made in the 2011 OCP, still in the OCP and for which Translink adamantly denies was ever made.
Drivers need to be ready for the snow, and pedestrians need to be ready for the snow. It amazes me how quickly people demand that drivers go and buy $1000 worth of winter tires, but pedestrians are not expected to get a $15 pair of step in crampons for walking on ice.
When I shovel my sidewalk I wear crampons. On Monday Night I fully cleared off the Sunday snow from my sidewalk and salted, but during the course of the day yesterday, the resulting snow bank melted back over the sidewalk and caused a 1/4" ice sheet to form. So even when someone takes the time, it may still be icy. If you value your body, wear crampons.
"Are the seniors supposed to walk on the roads? For that matter, are we all supposed to walk on the roads?"
No. They are supposed to visit their vibrant mixed use mmetromall downstairs from the condo.
Well its snowing again today and is predicted to be gone by tomorrow. For Canada this is the sniffles. Shovel your sidewalks folks. The muni isn't going to do it for you.
Post a Comment