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

247 signatures

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Showing 211 reactions

signed 2017-03-16 14:39:05 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 14:23:28 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 14:21:53 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 14:19:39 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 13:48:57 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 13:46:19 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 13:18:15 -0400
Such a fundamental need. Need to move snow AWAY from pedestrians and bikes….
signed 2017-03-16 12:53:46 -0400
Dulcie Canton
signed 2017-03-16 12:46:14 -0400
@Goldennewyork tweeted link to this page. 2017-03-16 12:23:49 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 12:23:29 -0400
Fifth Avenue is perfectly clear for a parade. What about our senior citizens, people in wheelchair and parents with strollers? Two days after this storm, it was difficult to cross the streets to get to my bus stop.
signed 2017-03-16 12:22:27 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 11:29:59 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 11:08:36 -0400
David Meyer
signed 2017-03-16 10:57:30 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 10:19:38 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 10:19:32 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 10:14:39 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 10:11:54 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 10:08:15 -0400
posted about this on Facebook 2017-03-16 10:05:50 -0400
Sign the petition: Petition: NYC Needs a Comprehensive Snow-Removal Policy
@ctoocheck tweeted link to this page. 2017-03-16 10:05:47 -0400
Sign the petition: Petition: NYC Needs a Comprehensive Snow-Removal Policy http://www.streetspac.org/petition_nyc_needs_a_comprehensive_snow_removal_policy?recruiter_id=7170
signed 2017-03-16 10:05:19 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 09:48:52 -0400
signed via 2017-03-16 09:27:01 -0400
K
signed 2017-03-16 08:48:16 -0400
For a City that is trying to cut down vehicle use and encourage the use of public transportation, the conditions of the sidewalks, crosswalks, medians, bus stops and subway steps after the snow on 3/14 is completely unacceptable. More of the snow removal resources need to be applied towards pedestrian safety.
signed 2017-03-16 07:15:43 -0400
signed 2017-03-16 04:53:23 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 23:54:59 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 23:45:51 -0400
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