NYC Needs a Comprehensive Snow-Removal Policy

Yesterday's snowfall – while thankfully not the blizzard that many outlets predicted – served as yet another reminder that New York City lacks a comprehensive system for clearing snow from intersections, crosswalks and catch basins.

SlushPuddleNYT.jpgWhile the Department of Sanitation did its usual yeoman's job of plowing and salting the city's streets, too much of that plowed snow ends up creating headaches for pedestrians, and for less able-bodied New Yorkers, dangerous and impassable obstacles.

As LTV Squad's Joseph Anastasio pointed out a year ago, snow removal at intersections falls into a responsibility black hole, and too many property owners skip shoveling their sidewalks because fines are low and enforcement is almost nil. He offers up a plan that largely puts the onus on the citizenry, which may or may not be the best plan – but at least it's a plan! And here are three suggestions from Streetsblog's Ben Fried for improving upon the current situation.

Given its role in creating laws, the City Council needs to tackle this nagging problem head-on. Sign the petition to ask the Council to initiate a comprehensive plan for improving snow removal in New York City.

Petition

To the New York City Council:

New York City needs a comprehensive snow-removal policy!

While the Department of Sanitation does an excellent job of plowing streets, the city has no equivalent process for clearing intersections, crosswalks and catch basins. We've all encountered mountains of snow and ponds of slush when simply trying to cross a street, but what's annoying for the nimble and able-bodied can be dangerous and impossible for the elderly, the disabled, young children or parents pushing strollers. Clear streets are not enough if they can't be crossed by pedestrians!

We, the undersigned, urge the Council's Transportation and Sanitation Committees to craft an overhaul to the laws governing snow removal.

Photo: Joshua Bright for The New York Times

Who's signing

Judy Harris
S Taccani
Ellen Plliskin
F Mead
Jason Das
Thomas Huzij
Caitlin Hawke
Adam Robey
Celia Stahr
Corinne Hoener
Jennifer Landry
Chris Hampton
Michael J.
247 signatures

Will you sign?








Like this to spread the word:

Showing 211 reactions

signed 2017-03-21 06:59:09 -0400
signed 2017-03-21 06:31:25 -0400
I am 70 with arthritis. There are walls of snow for at least a week after storms on the corner of 84th and Columbus; and the bus stops are blockaded by plowed up walls of snow.
signed 2017-03-20 22:14:50 -0400
Bike lanes need to be cleared too
signed 2017-03-20 22:12:55 -0400
the piles of slippery (sometimes frozen) slush at street crossings is not only annoying but extremely dangerous even for the able bodied. And when it all melts the “ponding” at corners is high enough to go over shoe tops. And the bus stop clearance is almost nil… and I live in Midtown West. I can hardly imagine what it might be like in other neighborhoods with fewer responsible owners and less foot traffic to raise a flag of need.

Furthermore, construction sites should be required to clear their sidewalks and street crossings. We are inconvenienced enough with major traffic blockage caused by lanes closed for months for construction.

Please attend to this matter as the
signed 2017-03-20 21:51:53 -0400
How about a plan to clear the bus stops too. The City plows just pile it up high in front of the bus stops making a snow barrier.
followed this page 2017-03-20 19:14:38 -0400
signed 2017-03-20 19:12:03 -0400
F Mead Why can’t the plows clear crosswalks, bus stops, storm drains and fire hydrants and why is there so little enforcement of sidewalks being cleared in a timely manner? Why can European and US Great Plains cities which get more snow in a week than we do all winter get it right and New York City’s government can’t?
posted about this on Facebook 2017-03-20 16:05:58 -0400
Sign the petition: NYC Needs a Comprehensive Snow-Removal Policy
signed 2017-03-20 16:05:39 -0400
@khittel tweeted link to this page. 2017-03-20 15:32:24 -0400
signed 2017-03-20 15:31:46 -0400
Kenneth Hittel
signed 2017-03-20 13:08:26 -0400
signed 2017-03-19 21:36:55 -0400
signed 2017-03-19 21:35:30 -0400
Bus Stops have been impossible to board for several days particularly

for seniors & physically challenged folks. Special priority should be

given to clear bus stops so those with difficulties are able to use public transportation.
signed 2017-03-19 20:27:50 -0400
Not having effective snow (and slush puddle) emoval at all of our intersections and public transportation access points effectively renders the city inaccessible to many groups of neighbors. It’s a moral duty to do a much better job with this!
signed 2017-03-19 15:22:49 -0400
signed 2017-03-19 12:47:24 -0400
signed 2017-03-19 10:47:44 -0400
signed 2017-03-19 08:52:23 -0400
signed 2017-03-18 23:02:17 -0400
signed 2017-03-18 23:02:06 -0400
signed 2017-03-18 22:56:29 -0400
I wonder when — not if — I am going to end up falling down and seriously hurting myself because the sidewalks and intersections are so difficult for pedestrians after even a moderate snowstorm.
signed 2017-03-18 20:52:10 -0400
signed 2017-03-18 20:26:48 -0400
posted about this on Facebook 2017-03-18 18:57:32 -0400
Sign the petition: NYC Needs a Comprehensive Snow-Removal Policy
@jeffnovich tweeted link to this page. 2017-03-18 18:57:30 -0400
signed 2017-03-18 18:56:39 -0400
signed 2017-03-18 17:56:24 -0400
Crossing Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, as a pedestrian, when there’s heavy snow on the ground, is a nightmare. Please create safe crossings for pedestrians.
signed 2017-03-18 17:41:17 -0400
@BJC_in_NYC tweeted link to this page. 2017-03-18 17:30:25 -0400
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