My post suggesting that clearing snow off sidewalks should be as important as clearing streets after a snowstorm got a lot of comments from empathetic pedestrians. Many wondered if any local organizations are working on issues about keeping Chicago sidewalks walkable in the wintertime.
Check out the Better Streets Chicago site and sign the petition.
And the answer is…yes! circulating a petition now demanding that the City of Chicago prepare a plan and allocate resources to make municipal sidewalk snow clearance a higher priority. I learned about this after a friend signed that petition — once you’ve signed, you have the option to have this letter sent to friends who might want to sign, too. I contacted Better Streets Chicago this morning, and they generously agreed to let me share that letter with you Safe & Sound blog readers here. I hope you’ll sign!
Create Walkable Winters in Chicago
Hi there,
I signed a petition telling Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Streets & Sanitation Commissioner John Tully, CDOT Commissioner Gia Biagi, CTA President Dorval Carter, Chicago City Council to create walkable winters in Chicago.
By failing to clear sidewalks of snow and ice, the City is failing its many residents who rely on pedestrian infrastructure to get around. Often these are some of the most vulnerable residents. The piles of snow and ice effectively traps people who use wheelchairs or other mobility supportive devices. It impedes parents with strollers. It makes accessing the bus difficult to impossible, especially if you have limited mobility. It leaves every user at risk of slipping and falling. The City has chosen not to take responsibility for public infrastructure during the winter.
Act now and sign this petition demanding that the City of Chicago prepare a plan and allocate the resources to make municipal sidewalk snow clearance a reality by next winter.
Can you join me and take action? Click here to sign the petition: https://betterstreetschicago.org/walkable-winters?source=email&
Thanks!
Just now followed your lead and signed the petition. Thanks Beth.
No. Thank you, Mel.
Trying to cross the street this week, there was a narrow path of melting mushy snow, I began slipping, my hand went to the snow to brace my fall (which of course started caving in). Fortunately I was able to catch myself before falling. As a senior, if I had fallen, it might not have been possible to get up without assistance. Since no one was around, I would have had to wait until someone came. Solar heated sidewalks and across street crossing areas would have prevented this without needing more shovelers. What would be the cost and benefits (dollars, new jobs, safety, etc.).
Even those who do shovel their sidewalks sometimes slack off. As mentioned, they leave a narrow path to walk. I was on the bus, when a man on a scooter was getting off at 25th street to go to Mercy Hospital. I warned him that there was a mound at the crossing, and he wouldn’t be able to get to the street. He got off, anyhow. Luckily, the bus driver waited, and the man had to come back onto the bus. He got off at 26th, where a clear path, even at the curb, was there for him. There are many in my neighborhood who use scooters or wheelchairs, or walkers. I have trouble getting my shopping cart through semi-shoveled sidewalks and mounds at corners. I’ll gladly sign the petition.
The correct address for the petition site is https://www.betterstreetschicago.org/walkable-winters
Hmm. That’s not the url they give in their letter. I’ll check.
Beth, I checked out the email address and the one that Sheila gave is correct (turns blue in the email-a sure sign.)
Thanks for the hint, Veronica! Others who have commented were somehow able to find the petition, but will switch over to the shorter URL so it looks blue!
And as they say in the business world: done! But tell me, does the link look blue now?
I hope many people sign this! It is a huge section of the population who becomes sequestered after heavy snowfalls. We simply can’t risk falling.
Thanks Beth! Leave it to you to get something done! I signed and will share.
And leave it to you, dear Susie, to sign it and share it right away. Thank you.
And Annelore, you are so right. one wonders if, during a time when they don’t want a lot of us out and about for public health reasons, they put shoveling walks and keeping curbcuts clear even lower on their “to do” list…
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