Community Chat

[Mominohio]

There was just a piece on the local evening news, and I was in town yesterday (live out in the country) and noticed so many of the "public" sidewalks were in terrible shape, still unshoveled after storm passed a good 48 hours ago.

There are various ordinances in cities and towns, but I guess that a state supreme court ruling (Ohio) back in 93 ruled homeowners couldn't be held responsible if someone fell when they didn't shovel.

I remember when I was growing up, it was of the utmost importance to get those sidewalks shoveled, or you'd be fined (I'm speaking of the sidewalks that run along the roadway, not those leading up to your front porch). Never mind that it was the right thing to do for safety of those walking. It didn't matter if you were elderly, or disabled, it had to be done, and mostly, neighbors looked out for others, and did the walk for those who were unable to do it themselves.

I watched kids trying to get home from school, wading through about 8 inches of snow where property owners just didn't care about those needing to use those sidewalks. It is never just a spot here and there anymore that doesn't get done. It goes on for blocks, with maybe one property owner doing a section here and there.

A couple of years ago, there was a local disabled woman who was hit in the road while walking, and how she survived, I don't know. Her injuries were extensive. And there she was the other day, walking in the road again because the walks were impassible.

I'm appalled at the way people behave today and just what they don't get done. We have all this technology that is supposed to make life easier and give us more time, but we seem to get less and less of the most basic things accomplished. If you are going to be a homeowner, and you live in a property that has these sidewalks, you have at the very least, a moral obligation to get them cleared for those who have to walk and need to do so safely. It's been a rough year for snow and ice in many parts of the country, but I really think people just don't care about some of the most basic responsibilities anymore.

[PurpleBunny]

You are correct, people don't care. I'm proud to say that my husband goes and shovels out the elderly and single ladies in our neighborhood EVERY single storm. He cleans their cars off too.

[Mominohio]

On 2/6/2014 PurpleBunny said: You are correct, people don't care. I'm proud to say that my husband goes and shovels out the elderly and single ladies in our neighborhood EVERY single storm. He cleans their cars off too.

Bless his heart! My dad was the same way, back when men still felt safe being gentlemen, he'd go out at the end of the day, and clean off the cars of the women in his office. I think he was paying back my mom, who would clean off the car and warm it up for him when they were young, and he was preparing to go off to second or third shift as a police officer.

[loveschocolate]

I always shovel my walk and driveway...we live on a corner lot. I also shovel my neighbors walk and driveway.

[PurpleBunny]

People should ALWAYS shovel out the fire hydrants too!!!! VERY important!!!!

[Mominohio]

On 2/6/2014 PurpleBunny said: People should ALWAYS shovel out the fire hydrants too!!!! VERY important!!!!

Very important reminder! I forget about that since we moved to the country. Thanks.

[sylviahomeatlast]

here, we're required to shovel within 24 hours after the snow stops ---when it doesn't stop, shovel every day---the city gives fines

[GCR18]

Growing up my father would take us to shovel my grandmother's sidewalks. Her house was on the corner and she had really long sidewalks. I know it's not easy or fun, but I think you take on that responsibility when you live within city limits.

[AngelPuppy1]

I have to say that I feel that back in the old days everyone chipped in and helped each other. If some people couldn't do their own shoveling, friends, neighbors, kids, etc. would do the shoveling. No money was expected. It was just the thing to do. We all helped each other out. Now, for the most part, people just look out for themselves. I''m not saying there aren't people out there who are good and who do help, but there aren't enough. And there are a lot of kids who won't even help their own parents do it. Where I live, no-one helps anybody. It's really a shame. I am an older person and not well and so is DH. We struggle to do these types of things. People see us out there and know we aren't well and no-one offers to help. One person did our walk one time. We are nice people and we used to help people when we were younger and in better health and we lived in a different neighborhood. There are teenagers who live around here and they don't even do their own family's shoveling. If people would look out for each other, it would really make a big difference!!!

[gardenman]

A local community had an ordinance that sidewalks had to be shoveled clear within two hours of a storm ending and after a town official got a little overly enthusiastic enforcing that, the ordinance was rewritten to give homeowners more time. A storm had ended in the middle of the night and the official was out issuing citations before sun-up and the citizens who got cited (nearly everyone) were not happy. Some were cited while they were clearing their sidewalks because they hadn't completed the clearing within two hours of the storm ending. Some were cited even though they'd cleared their sidewalk but a snowplow had then thrown snow from the road onto the sidewalk. That local official almost incited a lynch mob with his citations. It got kind of ugly. Suffice to say he's no longer a public official.

I always assume nothing will be cleared and have my boots and Get-A-Grips ready if I need to go out right after a storm. I know people should clear their walks, but I also know that many won't. Some are renters who don't want to do anything and leave it to the landlord. Some are older and physically can't do it, and some just don't care. There's not a lot you can do about it other than be prepared.