A Rant About Snow and Sidewalks

That is pretty messed up, I hate snow, we never shovel out sidewalks, but one of our neighbors always snowblows them

Shoveled walks would make it so much easier for me to be able to walk this time of the year. In Rochester, N.Y., not many people shovel; not even business owners. In my neighborhood and elsewhere around the city, they have a sidewalk plow they run to clear the snow, though it doesn't do a clean job like hand shoveling does. It still leaves an inch or two so it can melt and freeze and turn into a sheet of ice to have to walk on. I've fallen many times already, but luckily haven't been injured. I've already warned management of my building, if snow isn't cleared at least on building property, if I fall and get injured (they're aware of me losing a leg), I have no problem in getting a lawyer and WILL sue.

If you don't keep the snow and ice of the sidewalks here in Iowa, they will do it for you...For a nice charge of 500.00. =) Same goes for your grass...

Never heard the follow-up, Chicago was going to impose heavy fines if walks were not cleared within 24 hours?

Wow that is crazy! I wonder if we have the same stupid law in our state. Almost no one shovels any snow! Just the business's do - and us of course.
In Minnesota you had to keep your sidewalk clear! Now we are in New England~

Our city ordinance requires us to keep the sidewalk clear or you can be fined. However, they are city property if someone gets hurt on them. I don't understand how that works.

no sidewalks to worry about here thank goodness.

In all the area's I've lived in here in Michigan, it's a law that the owner of the property has to keep the sidewalk clear in front of their home. When I walked the kids to school this morning, it was clear except in front of two homes, which are both empty and for sale.

If the city comes by and sees that it isn't shoveled, they leave a warning notice. If it's still unshoveled when they come by later that day or the next day, the owner can get a fine, and will be charged for the city removing the snow.

One thing I've noticed, that I've never seen before, are a large number of people in the area who have plows attached to quads and lawn mowers. I want to get a riding lawn mower one of these years (we have a large lot), and if we do, I want to attach a snow plow to it.

the laws are getting so that a person who tries to make life easier can actually be sued over just about anything.

We own 27 acres of land and if anyone is hurt on it -we are liable but if we post it then the fire department cannot come on it to put a fire out. It is a no win situation.

Seems to be that people need to take some responsible for themselves. If someone falls on the sidewalk - they were the ones that choose to walk there - they should be responsible.

Great idea, about the mini-plow on the riding mower. Cool. I know when I lived out in the boonies for a while in Michigan, every guy had a plow on his pick-up truck and used it to plow their way everywhere.

thank you for sharing

I agree with you about Cincinnati, Marilyn. They have some rather weird ideas about how things should work. It is almost like being stuck in a bad episode of Alice in Wonderland. I did read when I was in Cincinnati that the way the laws work is that if you do shovel your snow, it had better be a good job, because one slip up and lawsuits are on the way. It seems that there was a case where someone sued and won. Here in Chicago, the mayor reminds us every year that the postal delivery person can report us for not shoveling our walkways and stairways so that the mail can be delivered. So, the laws here keep us pretty honest. I've had situations where I woke up late, went to work without shoveling the snow, and had to rush home to shovel so that the postal delivery person did not report me. It all depends on who is delivering the mail.

One of my problems is the person who shovels out a parking spot on the street puts out lawn furniture to protect their spot. Now, I respect the work that it takes to shovel out a spot, but often what happens is that the person overreaches and claims so much territory that others can't park their cars. We had a case where someone removed someone else's lawn furniture with the result of blown out rear windshield. People let the air out of the tires of those who disregard this "unwritten rule." I hate it. My neighbor often claims two parking spaces when one is sufficient. So, it makes it difficult for the rest of us. Of course, he is rather selfish in other ways as well, but I won't go into it. At least, the neighbor on the other side of my house is away for the winter.

That sounds like the stupidest thing ever! What happened when the snow hardens and turns to ice? It's best to shovel it up when it first falls, then put down some salt and sand. That's how they do it in New York City. You'll get a hefty fine if you don't shovel your walk!

GGessshh! Some laws are kinda dumb!

Wow, thank you for sharing that I thought it was the other way around. I wonder what it is here.

that is pretty strange! We shovel our sidewalks here in WV. Well, at least most of us do!

in omaha you have 12 hours after a storm or you are charge,, I am not sure if they enforced it yet we were clean

I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooo SICK of how people can sue for this and sue for that! Even if they don't win, it's expensive and inconvenient for the one being sued.

Frankly, I think that this lawsuit bull was started by some kind of anti-American group that's trying to make us timid about everything--perhaps, the same ones that have us running scared to eat this food or that food. Either the food has salmonella or else it has too many calories. And all of those rumors about Proctor & Gamble being devil-worshipers! And first this causing cancer and then that causing cancer!

If the enemy can make us timid enough, it can take us over and control us without firing a shot. Timid and/or greedy when it comes to the lawsuits. Timid ones almost afraid to own property or exercise other freedoms, and greedy ones who are looking for ways to get rich quick by taking it out of another person's hide.

Or another corporation's hide? WalMart, ChiChi's (conquered), McDonald's, Wendy's, and the list goes on and on...

You need to come back to Texas, Marilyn!! :)

I do, Janie!

Now that doesn't make sense to me at all, but then again I'm from PA where it was the law to have your sidewalk shoveled and salted or you were liable.

You might not like my idea but it was a thought and I am not even sure you have ever seen them or not but what i am about to suggest was arreginally made for kids to ride but even most adults ride them now to get around in the woods in where we live if they go hunting or mud bogging. I thought you might if it is allowed whern you want to just get out and enjoy the senery to not be so confined in the house why not use a 4 wheeler. Just a idea. I mean no harm but I know how you do not like to be cooped up at home when you do not have to be.

That's insane!
Up where my mom lives, you have to shovel the sidewalk in front of your house. The town will do maintenance stuff, but you gotta do the shoveling.
Bah, that's a shame that where you are isn't like that!

Hmmm, Joe. Was this comment meant for here?

stopping by to wish you a wonderful weekend!

We don't have a sidewalk, but we do have a long driveway to shovel. what a pain, but we always do it.