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The city will be looking at ways to improve sidewalk mobility during and after heavy snowfalls.
By Jim Clark
The Somerville Board of Aldermen is looking at issues related to mobility on public sidewalk during winter snow conditions.
Specifically, at the last regular meeting of the Board on Thursday, March 22, an order was initiated by Alderman At-Large Stephanie Hirsch, and co-sponsored by the entire Board, asking the Commissioner of Public Works and the Superintendent of Inspectional Services to convene a public community meeting to debrief with residents on the condition of sidewalks this winter with regard to mobility concerns.
Speaking on the matter, Hirsch said, “This is something that a number of us all have probably heard from people who have trouble walking on the sidewalks. And we know that the Bike Committee met with Public Works to find out how the cleaning of the streets could help, and we were hoping to do the same for people who use the sidewalks.”
Members of the Somerville Board of Aldermen are interested in finding ways to make city sidewalks safer to negotiate during the winter season.
Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang said that he was happy to co-sponsor the order, while adding, “I just want to say that in my opinion, the sidewalks are enormously better than they used to be. I remember when my daughter was little – 23, 24 years ago – trying to get around with a stroller was just impossible, even in Davis Square.”
Niedergang said he remembers breaking a wheel off of that stroller in Davis Square. “So it’s a lot better,” according to Niedergang, “Particularly the corners. I think residents deserve tremendous credit for the snow shoveling efforts that they’re making. I just think it’s so much better than it used to be. But there’s still a long way to go. We’ve got to figure out the corners, for example. A lot of times you’ll go along a beautiful sidewalk and when you get to the corner, really, there’s just a wall of snow there.”
Niedergang said that it is important to acknowledge progress when it is being made, but he would like to see more of it.
The order was unanimously approved by the Board and a community meeting on the matter will be convened sometime in the near future.
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WTF is it with these morons? Somerville has the best snow plowed streets in New England. The Bikers (that don’t even follow the rules) have the bike lanes and tracks cleaned just as good as the streets. Now they complain about the sidewalks? Hello lefties, It’s winter time! What are we supposed to do? Put the snow back up in the clouds? Where do you suggest we put it? Should the city hire 1000 shovelers and purchase 100 more trucks to haul every snow flake away? Maybe we should just leave the snow where it falls and vote these snow flakes away! Idiots!
It is ridiculous. The bike lanes should be used to put the snow there so we can clear the sidewalks. For many of us we are lucky we can clear what we do. It is a huge burden and physical problem for many of us to perform this great feat. Maybe moving to Florida would be better for those who do not have the tolerance for NE weather and the problems that come with it.
Hey Dizzy from Snowflake guy, I’m a raging leftie and I totally agree with you, so it’s not quite as black and white as that.
It’s @&%% New England, people. We get snow – deal with it. It’s going to suck for a bit, then it’ll melt. Shovel your damned snow. Yes, some of you are more screwed than others – that’s life. Quit your whining. Live at an intersection? Congratulations! Now you also own keeping a path to the street clear. Seem unfair? Tough – that’s basic civics. Have a fire hydrant? Now you own keeping that clear. Pissed off that a snowplow came by after you shoveled your sidewalk & got snow on your sidewalk? You’re stupid – you shoveled too soon. Next time wait. What do you expect them to do – leave big snow berms on the street so nobody can park there? Customize their plowing job for every house on a street? And does anybody seriously expect the city to come by after plowing and shovel access to the street at every intersection? How much would THAT cost? Too old / physically unable to shovel? Hire someone. Consider it a tax for living in New England instead of some boring-ass southern city. Too poor? Go guilt one of your neighbors to do it – they’re already assholes if they didn’t volunteer to help in the first place. Upset that there’s snow on your “bike lane” (aka “side of street, where the snow goes”)? Yeah life’s tough – in Syria they’re bombing houses – still want to complain? Ride out in the street more. Don’t ride. Whatever. That’s the nature of bike riding in NE. Be glad you’re now living in the age of bikes with snow tires.
People who don’t shovel wide enough for wheelchairs probably never even thought about it, or they’re just malcontent narcissists. Maybe identify problem houses and have someone in a wheelchair show up & shame the homeowners.
Honestly, people – this is a situation that lasts a few weeks and then goes away all by itself. Sure, clobber people who don’t keep sidewalks clear. But I draw the line at spending lots of public money so we can further advance the lazification of the general public.
I’m really tired of the homeowners being the bad guy in every story. They seem to be blamed for everything. On my street, the entire corner where 2 streets meet is full of snow left there by the city plows. It goes all the way into the middle of the street and you can’t even see the sidewalk at the corner. Homeowners don’t own the sidewalks and can’t be held accountable.
The city could and should do more regarding sidewalks. They can’t shovel or even plow most of the sidewalks in the city but they could buy more sidewalk plows and maintain the main streets around the city. Has anyone noticed the amount of new or almost new equipment the city has purchased in the last 10-15 years? Pickup trucks, dump trucks front end loaders and yes some sidewalk equipment. They have focused more on clearing the major roadways of snow during and after storms. They should be commended for that, but they have done almost nothing to clear the sidewalks after those big plows come down Broadway, Somerville ave, or Washington street. Those homeowners and businesses are left to clear the sidewalks and the crosswalks afterwards or they get enormous fines. Can’t have it both ways. Most of us don’t own the equipment necessary to remove that amount of snow within six hours of snowfall ending.
Not to worry. Global warming will soon take care of this problem.