People who don’t shovel after a snowstorm are jerks. People who don’t shovel after a snow/freezing rain/rain storm are giant assholes. My walk to work this morning was the most treacherous one this winter. The sidewalks were a complete sheet of ice. For every property that did clear their sidewalks, 15 others didn’t. I didn’t want to be out there in the miserable weather last night – but I was. Why? Because it’s my responsibility as a homeowner. And I actually have some regard for the people who walk through my neighbourhood. I’m able-bodied and I had a hard time navigating the thick ice on the sidewalks this morning. I can only imagine how parents with strollers, or people in wheelchairs fared… —JJ
This article appears in Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2011.
The ice really is a bitch but frankly I rather walk on bumpy icy non cleaned sidewalks than on clean ones with no salt because at least you expect the ice on the messy ones! I almost did a banana peel flip onto my ass this morning walking to work from the bus stop because i hit a patch of black ice on the pavement..
Ya, I was out shovelling last night while my stinkin’ neighbours stayed cozy. I hope they managed to spread some salt this am – because I’m sure it’s gone icy.
Actually tee, if you’re diligent about keeping the snow or slush off your sidewalk you barely need salt.
I hate to use the stuff, as it’s really hard on my dog’s paws. But I’m fanatical about keeping my sidewalks bare, and as a result I only need to use salt a couple times a year.
Oh and I totally agree with the OP. I almost broke my neck walking the pooch this morning. Barely any sidewalks in my ‘hood were cleared. Jerks indeed.
I was wondering whether or not the HRM is responsible for cleaning the sidewalks or is it the homeowners. But I guess you just answered my question.
Depends on where you live Jenn. Us darkside residents have our sidewalks cleared by the city.
Well in the case of diligent home owners like yourself Happy Go Lucky, salt, no salt, as long as there is no ice.. (and you can buy these little booties at the pet store in Bayers Lake to put over paws for salt)
PS- thanks and good job, it is appreciated when you don’t have to walk like you pooped your pants because some dick is too lazy to clean theirs : )
I can’t speak to anywhere else, but us peninusla dwellers have to clear our own.
I’ve tried booties but my dog HATES them. He just stands there with this horrified look on his face and refuses to move. So for the winter months I just try to keep his paws really clean, and avoid big piles of salt.
they have 24 hours after a storm to clear the shit o.p., i guess you should read about it at the city website.
I went to bed when it was still raining last night because I have 4:30 mornings.
I’m sorry Op, but I don’t give enough of a shit about you to make it a 3:45 morning so that I can clear my sidewalk for you. So I’m using my 24 hours and you are waiting until I’m home this afternoon.
That may be true LS, but now that the ice is good and solid, it will be incredibly hard to remove.
It would have been easier on the homeowner to just do it last night, not to mention a lot nicer for pedestrians this morning.
Original bitcher here.
@ Fallingangels: no need for the hostility. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, and it sounds like in this case that applies to you. However, I don’t think it applies to the vast majority of homeowners in my neighbourhood. I highly doubt most of them have a valid excuse for not doing it sooner.
@ Happy Go Lucky: thanks for being diligent. I wish more homeowners were as responsible.
@ Life Sucks: you sound like a jerk.
I really have to give props to the university I work at. They have been beyond amazing with their snow removal all winter. I have to leave my building and go to another one 2-3 times a day and I haven’t even had to change into my outdoor shoes — my little black dress flats have been fine because the walkways and roadways have been excellently cleared/salted/sanded.
So great job University That PK Works At!
“they have 24 hours after a storm to clear the shit o.p., i guess you should read about it at the city website.”
actually it’s “within twelve hours after the end of any snowfall or, where the snow stops falling during the night, six hours after daylight”
so in this case, they have till oh about now to have it removed since it stopped snowing after dark.
get out there and clean people!
Where are all the neighbourhood kids willing to plow for you for some money seems good money right about now.
OP, why not just buy a pair of snow cleats that easily attach to your shoes, boots, or hoofs? $20 and you’re good to go.
Yes because everyone wants to walk around with the urban version of a snow shoe.. They’re ugly and I highly doubt they are worth it!
These easily fit in a jacket pocket.
http://www.allproducts.com/plastic/jiahao/…
I’ve actually had several pairs of “Yaktrax” and the like, but for whatever reason I can’t get them to stay on my boots.
I just find it’s easier for everyone when property owners take responsibility and do what they’re supposed to! 🙂
“Neighborhood kids willing to plow for some money”. Right
http://gadgetbadger.co.cc/wp-content/uploa…
Better know CPR to avoid lawsuits from the outraged parents. Besides, all the ambitious kids are setting up meth-labs, shaking down small business owners and pimping out a string of their classmates.
But Op, it’s a bitch forum. It is where I am allowed to be hostile and suffer no repercussions for it. Well, until recently, but I won’t start that debate up again. 😛
j.j., thanks, and how is your snowbank climbing. city usually plows our sidewalks, during and after the snow. but i guess you live in outer fuckme land, or as close to it as you can. funnygirl, they must have changed that then, because about a month ago, on t.v., they were saying that it was 24 hours, and to check city website.
Ivan, thats a shame really be a nice way for them to save up money for weed.
LOL – little bastards probably have a better retirement plan than I do.
Sorry, Life Sucks, but what???
I read your post several times and still can’t figure out what the heck you’re trying to say. Snowbanks? Huh?
I don’t know where you live, but in my neighbourhood (North End Halifax) the city does not plow the sidewalks – that responsibility falls to the homeowner. And since roughly 2% of the homeowners in my area actually did that last night the sidewalks in that end of town were a nightmare this morning. It was incredibly difficult to navigate all that ice without falling.
I don’t know what the actual regulations are regarding clearing the snow – could be 12 hours, could be 24 – I haven’t looked into it. Regardless, why wouldn’t you just do it right away? For one thing it’s easier when it’s fresh, rather than when it’s had 12 hours to freeze to the ground. For another, it shows some common courtesy towards the people who use the sidewalks.
I live in the north end and they do plow the side walks…. not very well, but they go by once! And a lot of people in the city, like me, rent and therefore are not the home owners so it’s the landlords that you should be mostly mad at.
You’re sort of right, melectric.
The city does plow a few sidewalks on the “major” routes in the North End – streets like Novalea. The side streets, on the other hand (the ones around my house) are not. Those are the sole responsibility of the homeowner.
Also, most of the homes in my particular area aren’t rented – they’re owner occupied. I’ve lived there a long time, and after years of walking my dog I’ve gotten to know most of my neighbours.
As a landlord I’d actually like to correct melectric.
Snow clearning reponsibility does not automatically fall to the landlord/property owner. Take a look at any Standard Form Lease. There’s a “snow removal” box listed in the section that explains what’s included in the rent, and what’s not. I have a couple of houses I rent, and I never check the snow removal box, meaning it’s the responsibility of the tenant.
http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/pdf/ans-residen…
I should also add the tenant is well aware of this when we do the lease signing, and they agree to it.
Yep, I agreed to it when I signed my lease. I also do the driveway. It’s supposed to be split between myself and the neighbours, but they seem to think the minimum is ok. Drives me mental. Mainly because when I go away, I give them a heads up so they can do it… but they never do, so when I get home everything is frozen solid. I think they may have shoveled once, maybe twice all winter. Grrr….
I’m in the North End too – and I was shoveling last night right before it changed to ice pellets… ugh.
Back in the Late Early Anthropocene, the wise people of Dartmouth decided that they’d rather pay an annual levy on their tax bill and have the city clean the public sidewalks. It’s broken out separately so that you can see the amount. I can’t remember the exact figure but the last time I checked it was in the area of $80 annually.
This represents good value to me. It’s far less than I’d have to pay if I had a snow removal contract for my driveway.
It says you have to clear the snow
Does it specify , you have to clean up the water before it freezes ?
Does a thin layer of ice count ?
its not snow, its ice.
Yes – ice must be removed as well as snow.
From the HRM website:
•clear snow and ice from all sidewalks abutting their property. Where a residential property abuts sidewalks at both the front and the rear of the property, snow and ice must be removed from the front sidewalk where the civic address is posted.
•clear snow and ice from any pathways leading from a sidewalk to the roadway.
•clear snow and ice from any paths between a sidewalk and a crosswalk. A crosswalk is implied at every intersection whether or not there are lines painted for the crosswalk.
Lawsuit. Get the casino guy’s lawyer.
most private citizens have to clean snow and shit. building owners have two choices. they either contract out for plowing of driveways and parking lots, and the have supers, that are sposed to clear steps, landings and other common areas. and of course to salt or sand, as needed.
the city has, in our area, a contract to clear sidewalks of snow, nothing said of ice, or frozen water. then they either salt or sand as clearing unit goes by, or carries a hopper on back to spread said snow melting stuff.
i love where i live, because i hate shoveling snow, with a passion. and having it in the rental agreement is the best way out. most tenants don’t have this clause, which is too bad. some have a clause that states that they are responsible for the ordinary clearing of such things as snow, ice, debries, and of course, their own trash. to be picked up at curbside, in a unit that is acceptable by city, town, or community, in which they live. fuck, that was tiring.
j.j., thought by the way you wrote, that you had mountains of snow in your yard, that you had to climb over. oh well, we can’t all have fun and winter games, can we? notice i didn’t say, canada games. oh shit, now i’m gonna have that idiot commitee sue my ass. i’ll get zinck and that douche from the casino’s lawyer then.
Oh, well I guess I’m one of the lucky few people who rent that don’t have to worry about snow removal/salting :D.
I don’t have a sidewalk outside of my house, but it fuckin pisses me off that I practically break my back to shovel snow, then a plow drives by making a 3 ft snow bank to clear off my drive way… RAWR
…that is all…