That's right. It's a public right of way. Do you have to clear the road in front of your home? No, of course not. We value clearing roads with public resources so cars can go through but when it comes to actual human beings walking--you are on your own. We have to pay to fix our sidewalks and we have to clear them, showing that walkers are second-class citizens as opposed to drivers or motorists.
Where do the plows that we pay for push the snow? Onto our sidewalks! (making us double-taxed)
Where are we supposed to throw our snow? Onto the streets!
What will happen if you do that? You will get fined!
Who will pay you if the plow does not plow your street? Nobody!
Who will fine you if you do not shovel your walk? City government!
Who will fine your neighbor if he does not shovel his walkway? Nobody!
If city employees can check whether we shovel walkways or not, why can't they just shovel them?
Who will change behavior based on a $25 fine? Nobody!
If police do not fine people for driving on and parking on sidewalks (well, do they enforce this? Yes but usually we have to call them first as it is not on their "radar"...) why would anyone charge you or me for failure to shovel?
Why don't we crack down on people speeding on snow and ice? Driving without chains or FWD? Why don't we crack down on people driving without clearing their windshields and roofs? (What happens to all that snow on roofs when they start driving??)
No matter how you look at this, the rights and safety of walkers are violated for the rights and expediency of drivers. Roads are important. Sidewalks are not. Driving is important, walking is not. Plain and simple--and wrong.
I could go into more detail, but I hope I've made this clear...just like our roads.
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8 Comments:
People should clear their sidewalks, because it's the right thing to do, and quit whinning about wanting the government to take over their personal responsibility. Instead of hoping the "other guy" will carry your load through the government, get out ther and do it yourself. And, if your neighbor is elderly or needs help, give them a hand as well.
Bob McWilliams
I consider this poor advice on multiple levels. For one thing, it is advocacy of broad-based civil disobedience. For another, it is not clear to me that a sidewalk legally is a "public right of way" - in Annapolis or elsewhere. More likely is that the sidewalk is owned by the homeowner subject to public or private easement.
Furthermore, the willful failure to clear a walkway imposes an externality on pedestrians using that lawful right of way, in some cases forcing them into street. Pedestrian travel is the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly form of transit that exists; I am surprised that a strong transit advocate would encourage mass disobedience on this of all municipal ordinances.
For anyone who missed it, there is a series starting in the Capital on the Annapolis "walkability" issue: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/opn/2009/12/19-06/Capital-Mobility-We-are-blessed-with-a-pedestrian-city.html See my comment there about how bad this is not very far outside downtown.
We tried to walk downtown from West Annapolis yesterday, but would have had to walk in the street (not fun). I'll give the city a pass on this because it was the day after and getting the roads open first is an emergency priority (fire/police access). But I will be curious to see how things look this week. People who like to walk, or more importantly, people who HAVE to walk, feel like second class citizens in many parts of the city and surrounding areas.
Thanks Paul, but do you have any proposal to remedy 'socialism for the wealthy, capitalism for everybody else' ? Clearly it is only those with a vehicle capable of driving in these conditions, or a vehicle at all, that warrant the socialized cleared passage. Those without can do without is the standard applied, shovel your own or face a fine, and get to work, face peril all along as you walk in the street because the rich leverage all the socialized clearing resources so we can drive our radical-islamic-patriot-funding-vehicle to the mall to have you sell them some chinese lead for the kids. Think of the children! It's all for the children! but screw the guy who has to walk to work without bus service or a cleared sidewalk.
Bob So, by your extremely constrained view of government, you apparently believe that we should each deliver our own mail, pave our own roads, run our own military, and basically do everything for ourselves? Put out our own fires? Do our own criminal investigations? Put up our own street lights, phone poles, run our own airports etc, etc. You again demonstrate that you hold extreme views about many things. The sidewalks are a public utility. If roads get plowed why not sidewalks? Geez--I am not suggesting the governmnet make my bed, brush my teeth or...well, uhh, dry me off after the shower.
The problem with debating, disucssing or reading anything written by you is that you are so completely predictable, one wonders why we should bother. The market cannot do everything perfectly. Thus we have public utilities. You have such a narrow-minded view of everything and it's so blinded by narropwmindedness and ideology that it makes so much of what you say...well, useless. Make a better argument that at least considers mine and perhaps we can discuss. Otherwise...Call the Cato institute instead.
Dear Bruce...Ahh, where to begin? It appears that you completely missed my point. We walkers (you call us pedestrians) are treated as second class citizens! That's my beef. As for as advoxating broad based civil disobedience...well...and what's wrong with that? I think we should all build huge snowballs and roll them into the streets to block traffic..but I am not urging everyone to do that. Now, go out and see if our local and state governments have cleared sidewalks, bridges etc in public places....
(the following is from Dean Johnson, former mayor of Annapolis)Paul:
I just read your comments on Annapolis snow removal, compared them to various responses, and make several observations.
Firstly, the tone of the discourse should be returned to the dirty snow. At this time, place and season it is out of place.
Secondly, Bob's observations reflect the friendly manner in which much of the day-to-day relationships of this city operates. I can confirm that on this street it has been demonstrated again and again with the sharing of tools, experience, and encouragement. Neighbors helping each other, not out of a sense of obligation, but rather with a desire to make life better. We sweep the street, we shovel the street and we accept the use of our street for 'free parking' anytime an event is scheduled at the adjoining stadium.
Thirdly, I am glad that your street has been cleared by the city a day or two after the storm. Most residents weren't so blessed. The plow made it to our street today ( 4 days after the storm, and 3 days after the residents opened the street ourselves. ) To paraphrase your question "
who will pay us?" No thanks - this is one of those 'priceless' demonstrations of independence and responsibility which MasterCard uses in their advertising campaigns. We didn't wait for someone else, we did it ourselves. More importantly we've moved on.
Foerthly(sic), I note that in your response you suggested that the concept of 'public utilities' be applied to sidewalks. Even though Dave Humphrey's has so eloquently described the pedestrian qualities of Annapolis I have no sidewalk, nor do my neighbors, nor do a majority of Annapolitans. Thus I must inquire as to whether we can be reimbursed for the taxes we paid to build, maintain, legally protect, and now shovel the sidewalks of somebody else.
Finally. As various needs arose after the storm we put on our boots and hats and walked to and from nearby stores "in" the streets, noting, with irony how different the city looks when fresh snow covers reality. Thus how appropriate your closing line, "I could go into more detail, but I hope I've made this clear ... just like our roads."
Seasons Greetings,
Dean Johnson
Dear Dean:
Thank for the note. You want to read the anonymous letters I did not publish? Talk about dirty snow!
My entire points seems to have been missed. If roads are public utilities and we plow and clear them for cars, why are walkers left to fend for themselves? Why do sidewalks become private in terms of snow and maintenance when they are for everyone? Why is driving more important than walking and why do we not recognize how dangerous is becomes for walkers just after snowstorms when drivers operate in even more dangerous than normal conditions and wened up havoing to walk in the streets and the plows cover up our sidewalks making it even harder to clear? OKAY?
Now, having said that,let me respond to the issue of whether or not you have sidewalks. So what? Are your children in schools? Do you go to the library? Do you use police and fire services? Why should I pay for your road by your house? The answer is simple--it's called society and civilization. I get to use "your" road and you get to use "my" road. They are not really mine or yours, but ours--ie collectively owned. Why should sidewalks be different? Do you go to the parks?
And of course neigbors should help neighbors but the point is that while I shovel my walkway, what happens to my neighbors who don't shovel their sidewalks? I end up having to walk into the street where I am subject to dangerous cars because they can't see or control as well as normal and I have even less room to walk on the street...hence my point made all over again.
Either walking is important or not. Either sidewalks are collective and for all or not.
pmf aka CP
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