Icy sidewalks!!

Every year we go through the same thing - people who don't clear their sidewalk in front of their house. It's a State and County code to do that within a certain period of time, it was in the lastest newsletter. My husband and I walk every night all year, no matter what the weather. (we're originally from a cold weather climate) and believe me, the county certainly could make some much needed money by fining the people who don't clear their sideswalks. We were out the last two nights and found at least 10 houses who didn't clear their sidewalks. It's very annoying to slip and slide down their sidewalk and also very inconsiderate to your neighbors. I contacted the county and of course they said it's very hard to enforce because they just don't have the manpower to go around the county. He sugggested that when we see violators to write down their address and contact them....I'm not optimistic they would do anything anyway. So - year after year - we have to put up with these icy sidewalks. Ok - I've vented for the day. Thanks for reading.

 

Hopefully if enough of us call the same houses again and again the county will do something about it. It was very tretorous to get the kids to school yesterday. I am glad I did not send them out without me. They kept falling on the sidewalk and wanted to walk on the road with all the cars.
Here is hoping we can have some kind of effect.

Staci

 

Contact the county. Give them the address. The resident will get a sternly worded letter letting them know they will be fined $250/day until the walks are cleared.

 

Wow, how about doing something really strange and knock on the person's door and "ask" them why their sidewalk is not cleared. There may be a reason.

Why is everyone's first thought to lodge a complaint? These are your neighbours. Talk to them. Don't just phone in an anom. complaint.

 

I like to get out as the snow stops and shovel the side walk on my entire street. I love the snow and the exercise. Most my neighbors probably think the HOA is doing the clearing. If I could get some volunteers we could do all of the "Missed" side walks in Broadlands the day after a snow. Who wants to skip the gym and do some real cardio???

 

You are not alone Steve...there are still some really great people like you out there There have been many a snowy day when my neighbor has cleared the whole walk to school. He is awesome!!!

 

Because it's my opinion that most of the time you'll get an angry or annoyed response. No guarantee on that but that's why I wouldn't ask. They should know that it needs to be done and not need to be asked to do it.

 

One of the best investments I made was in a medium sized snow blower. Once I get that baby fired up, I usually end up doing my neighbors' sidewalks also. Only takes me an extra 10 minutes. I have never heard any of my neighbors complain about be deprived of the exercise. LoL

I also let my neighbours across the street know that if they ever want to borrow my snowblower, to lemme know.

Unlike Sunny and Steve, I have shoveling snow! I love my snow blower. Best 400 I ever spent (and my back likes it to)

 

We have a great "buddy system" set-up with our next door neighbors: when it snows, both driveways and walkways get shovelled by someone from either family. No one asks the other to do it, it just gets done. We've been doing it so long, we have lost count on who has done what when, and it's not like anyone keeps score anyway. We are really lucky to have had that relationship with them for the last ten years, and I am thankful for it.

That being said, I am not so naive as to think there are some people in our neighborhood who just don't give a ****. Cooincidentally, it is usually the same offenders every time.

 

I bet a lot of people still do not know that they have to shovel "their" sidewalk.

 

Trust me, I HAVE talked to them and they looked at me like I had three heads. There's no reason why they couldn't shovel, PLUS they have kids who are old enough to do it, god forbid they ask them to do something. AND these are repeat offenders year after year after year. Obviously - you don't walk.....but I fell twice last night...not fun.

 

It's especially fun walking your kids to the bus stop when you have to walk in the ROAD because the sidewalks are skating rinks. I wouldn't really care if it was snow we could stomp through. But having my little one fall and hurt himself on the ice isn't something I'm interested in. Thankfully the sun fixed most of the problem on our street yesterday.

 

I agree...the sun did help yesterday, but when we were out walking last night - everything froze up again.

 

What is supposed to be done about that??

 

I used to do this for my neighbors all the time, especially if they were elderly or had a newborn. They always thanked me and everything was cool.

 

Agreed.

 

Same argument / situation as with your neighbor who's dog poops in your yard - yep got one of those. It happens because they don't care, you need to talk to them, escalate from there. Still in the early stages of this "issue" but hoping things will turnaround.

 

Absolutely correct, this should be the first step.

 

The black walking trail behind Becontree Terrace was also an ice rink. Only a 6 foot section was really bad. If you would have taken the trail between Tumbletree and Fieldthorn towards the Southern Walk shopping center it was clear until the curve when it starts paralleling Becontree.