Community Chat

[Peaches McPhee]

Interesting. They plow all the streets here, and pretty promptly. They salt as necessary, too. Sidewalks are done by the city or town as well.

As far as I know there is no law about clearing your own property. I guess I can see having to clear the sidewalk in front of your house if the local gov't does not, but why does it matter to anyone but yourself how clean your driveway is???

PS, this is Rochester NY area, we do get quite a bit of snow.

[Yardlie]

You don't have to do your driveway here if you don't want to, but then there is no place to put your car because there are rules about parking on the streets in snow emergencies.

[Melania]

On 1/23/2014 terrier3 said:

The salt they use in the street plows don't work when it gets too cold.

They are wasting salt if they put it down now. It's about 5 degrees in Buffalo...no salting for now!

Exactly!!! Facts are important.

[Lipstickdiva]

The general rule of thumb here is that only main roads and secondary roads are salted. Mains and secondaries are plowed first and when those are done, then they move to side streets. Obviously common sense would say they have to keep the main roads and secondary roads cleared before they bother with side streets.

Our city doesn't have the money to salt every single street plus last year there was a salt shortage.

it is extremely cold here today in Ohio and I did see salt trucks out laying down salt. I just shook my head but it doesn't surprise me. My DH works for the city so I know some of the not so bright things that go on.

[GCR18]

The main roads are plowed timely here. The side streets are another story. If the snow is under a couple inches, my street doesn't get plowed. When we have a major snow storm, they don't come until every snow flake has fallen.

[Cranberries]

The city does the streets, people are responsible for their own sidewalks, parking, driveways. They salt and sand streets, but I think it's mostly sand which just makes a mess, and mostly just salted/sanded on the main streets. They have a priority type plowing process. Busiest streets first, then secondary, side, alleys, etc.

Sometimes no street parking goes into affect so they can evenly plow. If you don't move your car you get the sticker that it will be towed. I think it's something like within the first 12-24 hours to move the car so they can plow (?) Not for sure 100%, I don't park on the street but I have seen cars with the bright orange sticker on the window.

[boby]

The concept behind salting is that you put the salt down before the snow falls, because then more of it will melt.

In our small (5,000) town they don't even send the plows out until we have 2 inches on the ground. By then its too late for salt. They do a pretty good job making our narrow streets as passable as possible, mainly with lots of sand and gravel.

I would like to add that the town Commissioner of Roads lives two doors down, so we get real good service, even though we live on a dead end street.

[terrier3]

One of our suburbs provides small tractors that clear sidewalks on all streets, including residential.

Now THAT'S service!

[muttmom]

Shorty, based on all your posts, you really seem to dislike winter. Maybe with all your health problems, a warmer climate would be better for you.

[Shorty2U]

Thanks for the replies. We live in the country (in a development), and I don't know why they don't salt everywhere but maybe it is due to the above comments about the salt they use not working in the really cold weather. (that is probably why).

I remember cinders too. AND I remember chains on tires!

I went with my husband this afternoon (short distance to his Dr and to eat out). Only the main street was totally clear and streets near the school/doctor. The rest were a mess. It seems they did snow emergency routes only.

We will find out tomorrow what the roads are like going to my Dr. which is an hour away. And yes muttmom I hate winter. (Im sorry but I am actually starting to get miserable so maybe I shouldn't post about it and I cant change the weather anyway). I am cooped up a lot (when my back is bad) in warm weather, but in warm weather I can make it to the porch to get fresh air. In this weather I cant sit out. But a warm climate is not an option unless I leave my husband. (not..lol.). He works @ his job for 26 years. And my children/grandchildren are an hour away.

I have an old (school) friend in CA and she keeps telling me to visit. If I knew my back would hold up for the flight and visit I would go there for a month! lol.