Comments on: Quick, Someone Get Me a Shovel http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/comment-page-1/#comment-29165 Angus Grieve-Smith Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:34:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/#comment-29165 Last winter I walked across three unforgiveably large patches of ice on sidewalks in my neighborhood. I called 311 and got a call-back from a friendly and informative Sanitation engineer. He said that they can ticket property owners who don't keep their sidewalks sufficiently clear. The one property that was a private house wouldn't be a problem, but he felt that the church (corner of 39th and Woodside Avenues) and the Long Island Rail Road (under their bridges) would probably just ignore the tickets. This fall, the LIRR replaced the sidewalks under all its bridges, which has helped considerably with the drainage, and the ice hasn't been as much of a problem. In the case of Herald Square, it seems clear that the bike lanes aren't a priority for the sanitation managers. This kind of thing could be taken up with the DOS directly, but it might be good to have the 34th Street Pardnership mediate things. Someone here has contacts with them, right? Last winter I walked across three unforgiveably large patches of ice on sidewalks in my neighborhood. I called 311 and got a call-back from a friendly and informative Sanitation engineer.

He said that they can ticket property owners who don't keep their sidewalks sufficiently clear. The one property that was a private house wouldn't be a problem, but he felt that the church (corner of 39th and Woodside Avenues) and the Long Island Rail Road (under their bridges) would probably just ignore the tickets. This fall, the LIRR replaced the sidewalks under all its bridges, which has helped considerably with the drainage, and the ice hasn't been as much of a problem.

In the case of Herald Square, it seems clear that the bike lanes aren't a priority for the sanitation managers. This kind of thing could be taken up with the DOS directly, but it might be good to have the 34th Street Pardnership mediate things. Someone here has contacts with them, right?

]]> By: Greg http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/comment-page-1/#comment-29159 Greg Tue, 20 Feb 2007 22:50:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/#comment-29159 The cities efforts during this "storm" were borderline pathetic. I started cycling again last Friday and it was pretty bad, with most bike lanes being completely covered by snow from the plows. I expected it to be better today, but it really was not much better at all. I just took a lane as that was the only safe alternative. The cities efforts during this "storm" were borderline pathetic. I started cycling again last Friday and it was pretty bad, with most bike lanes being completely covered by snow from the plows. I expected it to be better today, but it really was not much better at all. I just took a lane as that was the only safe alternative.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/comment-page-1/#comment-29156 ddartley Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:50:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/#comment-29156 The thing is that the street plowing makes the corners worse than mere snowfall (according to my un-thorough observation, that is). So that's the City's doing, and then it seems the City does nothing to alleviate the hazard/inconvenience it creates. The thing is that the street plowing makes the corners worse than mere snowfall (according to my un-thorough observation, that is). So that's the City's doing, and then it seems the City does nothing to alleviate the hazard/inconvenience it creates.

]]> By: P http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/comment-page-1/#comment-29155 P Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:33:59 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/#comment-29155 ddartley- Or the city could expand the property owner's responsibility of clearing snow from the sidewalk all the way to the corner. Now that I think about it- I bet this is already the law but it's simply not enforced. ddartley-
Or the city could expand the property owner's responsibility of clearing snow from the sidewalk all the way to the corner.

Now that I think about it- I bet this is already the law but it's simply not enforced.

]]> By: keri http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/comment-page-1/#comment-29154 keri Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:10:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/#comment-29154 I have been thinking about this very thing! I used to live in Montreal and the city plows sidewalks in commercial areas and around metro stations. It was a dream. They are so cute, little sidewalk (and bike lane) sized plows/sanders. Aaron suggested perhaps BIDs would put up funds for plows? I have been thinking about this very thing! I used to live in Montreal and the city plows sidewalks in commercial areas and around metro stations. It was a dream. They are so cute, little sidewalk (and bike lane) sized plows/sanders. Aaron suggested perhaps BIDs would put up funds for plows?

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/comment-page-1/#comment-29152 ddartley Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:39:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/#comment-29152 Another similar thing-- I meant to keep a more careful eye out and make notes, but didn't: am I correct that the street snow plows just push all the snow to the side of the road, including around corners, and that's why intersections after snowfalls are crap for pedestrians? Shouldn't there be some city-sponsored digging/plowing around crosswalks? If they can expend amazing amounts of money and effort making the streets clear for cars, can't they do something for peds, who as we've read about here, drive the economy more than motorists? Another similar thing--

I meant to keep a more careful eye out and make notes, but didn't: am I correct that the street snow plows just push all the snow to the side of the road, including around corners, and that's why intersections after snowfalls are crap for pedestrians? Shouldn't there be some city-sponsored digging/plowing around crosswalks? If they can expend amazing amounts of money and effort making the streets clear for cars, can't they do something for peds, who as we've read about here, drive the economy more than motorists?

]]> By: Charlie D. http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/comment-page-1/#comment-29151 Charlie D. Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:03:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/#comment-29151 In the Boston area, pretty most bike facilities were rendered completely useless by the storm and poor plowing that followed (mainly because of the immediate freeze that occurred). The bike paths and bike lanes were full of snow and ice, and many bike lanes were full of parked cars due to snow and ice in the parking lane. I simply biked further towards the middle of the road. Motorists were remarkably patient, as my positioning now forced them to wait for oncoming traffic to clear in order to pass me in many cases. In the Boston area, pretty most bike facilities were rendered completely useless by the storm and poor plowing that followed (mainly because of the immediate freeze that occurred). The bike paths and bike lanes were full of snow and ice, and many bike lanes were full of parked cars due to snow and ice in the parking lane.

I simply biked further towards the middle of the road. Motorists were remarkably patient, as my positioning now forced them to wait for oncoming traffic to clear in order to pass me in many cases.

]]> By: Mike http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/comment-page-1/#comment-29147 Mike Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:32:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/20/quick-someone-get-me-a-shovel/#comment-29147 I rode to work today for the first time since the snowfall. I figured the streets were clear enough that I could safely ride. Was I wrong: More cars than ever parked in the bike lanes because of curbside snow taking up their free parking. Also, the Harlem River Bike Path along the Greenway was totally covered in ice, even though there were truck's tire tracks left behind (if a truck can get through, they could have plowed the greenway). But with a little caution and not a lot of speed (plus a little walking) I managed to pedal the iced over greenway for about 50 blocks without falling. I rode to work today for the first time since the snowfall. I figured the streets were clear enough that I could safely ride. Was I wrong:

More cars than ever parked in the bike lanes because of curbside snow taking up their free parking. Also, the Harlem River Bike Path along the Greenway was totally covered in ice, even though there were truck's tire tracks left behind (if a truck can get through, they could have plowed the greenway).

But with a little caution and not a lot of speed (plus a little walking) I managed to pedal the iced over greenway for about 50 blocks without falling.

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