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

Tyler Chadwick
alexa Weitzman
Robert Braun
John Maier
Jordan Gable
Paul Goebel
conrad
Rebecca Heywood
Hank Miller
Brian Fitzpatrick
Brian Oconnell
Ivan Tubert-Brohman
Wes Byrd
Adam Conti
Ian Donnelly
Maria Klushina
247 signatures

Will you sign?








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Showing 211 reactions

signed 2017-03-16 23:11:46 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 22:14:05 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 21:33:58 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 21:20:47 -0400
This is a major issue in central Queens on Queens Blvd. The elderly residents in this neighborhood are forced to walk in the middle of speeding traffic to cross the blvd. I have called 311, the police, the council members office, but nothing has ever been done. This needs to be considered in the planning stages of new intersections and we need a solution to address this every storm.
signed 2017-03-16 21:19:23 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 21:12:31 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 21:08:56 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 20:55:04 -0400
We need a plan that serves all New Yorkers, not just those having the privilege to drive. Why cars are given priority over people is continuing to live in the past.
signed 2017-03-16 19:39:46 -0400
Merci.
signed 2017-03-16 19:07:43 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 18:56:28 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 17:45:16 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 17:17:33 -0400
It’s simply a matter of making the sidewalks as safe as the streets in the aftermath of a snow storm.
signed 2017-03-16 17:15:15 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 17:09:20 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 16:34:29 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 16:26:11 -0400
Cars can drive in one day but bus riders and walkers suffer for days after a storm.
signed 2017-03-16 16:14:39 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 16:04:18 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 15:53:29 -0400
Trying to cross Park Ave at City Hall was scary. Groups of people were trying to scale the snow hills before the light turned greed and traffic bore down on them
signed 2017-03-16 15:51:33 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 15:25:56 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 15:19:41 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 15:18:53 -0400
Jack Savage
signed 2017-03-16 15:03:30 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 14:50:29 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 14:49:45 -0400
Matthew Roe
signed 2017-03-16 14:49:37 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 14:48:56 -0400
Ian Donnelly
signed 2017-03-16 14:40:10 -0400
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