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

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247 signatures

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Showing 211 reactions

signed 2017-03-15 23:42:27 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 23:38:48 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 23:24:06 -0400
Alexander Cayanni
signed 2017-03-15 23:21:11 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 23:01:05 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 22:51:08 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 22:44:09 -0400
I am a healthy individual who has trouble navigating sidewalks that go unshoveled and street corners that are impossible to cross. I feel so sad for elderly and disabled who risk broken hips and other injuries because of uncaring homeowners and businesses not doing their civic duty. Increase enforcement. Increase fines.
signed 2017-03-15 22:32:36 -0400
As a paramedic I can tell you that it can get nigh impossible to get the sick and injured past these unnecessary obstacles. Too many of my fellow EMSers have wound up with injuries, often permanent, due to these messes.
signed 2017-03-15 22:31:36 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 22:12:25 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 22:05:58 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 21:51:46 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 21:28:09 -0400
Simple enough. Plowing is only half the job.
signed 2017-03-15 21:18:12 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 21:01:35 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 20:43:46 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 20:42:38 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 20:41:25 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 16:44:14 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 14:40:30 -0400
The city’s near-exclusive focus on plowing streets for cars while largely ignoring the impassable crosswalks and buried bus stops needs to end, especially in a city where most people don’t even own cars.
signed via 2017-03-15 14:39:14 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 14:14:46 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 14:14:05 -0400
@MaxSholl tweeted link to this page. 2017-03-15 14:05:03 -0400
Do you hate walking through slushy and snow filled intersections? Sign the Petition: NYC Needs a Snow-Removal Policy http://www.streetspac.org/petition_nyc_needs_a_comprehensive_snow_removal_policy?recruiter_id=4100
signed 2017-03-15 14:04:01 -0400
Intersections, crosswalks, bus stops and access to the street at bus stops need to be prioritized during snow clearing and plowing. Pedestrians (ie, people) are the most efficient and populous of all types of transit in NYC and their free and able movement should be prioritized.
signed 2017-03-15 13:49:41 -0400
It’s almost impossible to navigate our neighborhood, and even worse for the many seniors and patients of the hospital on our block. Many intersections have no place to cross.
signed 2017-03-15 13:49:36 -0400
The slush swamps at corners making walking after snow dangerous and unpleasant. Please work on making streets walkable after snow, not just safe for cars!
signed 2017-03-15 13:48:32 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 13:28:33 -0400
signed 2017-03-15 13:08:39 -0400
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