While Vancouverites has recovered from a surprising week of snow in February, people in Winnipeg are still digging out. But what is interesting is the difference in snow removal policy for sidewalks in Winnipeg as compared to Vancouver.
And guess what~Winnipeg actually has snow plows designed with the correct size of blade to shovel out walks and make pedestrians more comfortable on sidewalks. As reported on Global News the City of Winnipeg gives their crews a 36 hour window for priority cleaning, and that includes sidewalks, which just like roads are labelled priority one or priority two. After a blizzard this week the City of Winnipeg will be clearing 2,900 kilometers of sidewalks stating “The sidewalks are done the same way as the streets”.
While Vancouver makes it the responsibility of residents to clean the section of sidewalk in front of their house, and makes business owners responsible for the areas in front of their store fronts, many witnessed that the City of Vancouver did not respond equitably by clearing their own snowy sidewalks adjacent to city parks and services. City of Vancouver~if Winnipeg can clean up their sidewalks to make it safer for walking citizens, why can’t you? Kudos to Winnipeg for making it safer, more comfortable and convenient for pedestrians to get around on sidewalks cleared of snow. After all, every trip begins with a walk, even in winter.
This shouldn’t be a shock. Many snowy cities in Canada do this, most in Ontario.
District of North Vancouver inexplicably seems to prioritize sidewalks on Braemar near the bike trails. And of course residents here are under no obligation to clear sidewalks.
It’s the same in Montreal – the city clears all the sidewalks. (And if you ever see one of the sidewalk plows coming, get out of the way – they stop for no one!)
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