Most U.S. cities leave the responsibility of sidewalk snow removal to homeowners, landlords, and businesses. The result: endangered pedestrians. (Also stranded people with mobility impairments…)
Each year, I witness close calls and pedestrians being forced into dangerous situations because the sidewalks in the winter become impassable—especially for people using wheelchairs and walkers and parents pushing strollers. And my Michigan community isn’t unique in not effectively keeping its sidewalks clear.
Most cities across the United States leave the responsibility of sidewalk snow removal to homeowners, landlords, and businesses. The results are haphazard at best, and don’t account for vacant properties and residents who don’t have the physical ability to shovel or the means to pay someone to do it for them. In cold-weather cities, the most vulnerable residents can be at risk for months at a time.
