By: John Towndrow, Chair, Transition Cornwall+
Last night I was awakened by the snowplow clearing our crescent. Other than having my sleep disturbed, it occurred to me that I really enjoy snow. A snowfall creates a sense of calm. It makes everything quiet and leaves a lovely soft covering over all the trees and hides some of the mess that humans create.
Some folks seek an escape during the winter months, but I find it calming to slow down, a chance to hibernate a little, read more and enjoy walks or ski excursions in the woods among the sugar-coated trees.
Like many others I like to walk each day in my neighborhood, especially now that I am retired. When I was working made a habit of walking to work downtown – about 4 km distance from home. It was good exercise and gave me a chance to mentally prepare for the day.
Unfortunately, it can sometimes take a several days to get the sidewalks plowed, making it very difficult for pedestrians, those without a car and especially elders, to get around. In the delay, the trampled sidewalk can become icy and impossible to navigate. When the sidewalks are blocked, I resort to walking on the roads, taking care to dodge the cars. The car drivers also seem nervous when they encounter a walker, probably because they are worried that they could inadvertently skid into a pedestrian.
Currently the City’s level of service for winter snow clearing operations is based on provincial minimum maintenance standards with primary roads with high traffic volumes and bus routes being cleared first, followed by secondary roads. Sidewalks are typically cleared last after all the roads are done and when snow accumulation is greater than 10 centimetres.
As you can see from the photo above, the condition of the sidewalk makes it difficult for pedestrians to navigate, even after road has been cleared a couple of times.
So, my question is, even though today’s cars with snow tires can easily negotiate a few centimetres of snow, why are they given priority over pedestrians?
I would like to suggest a possible reversal of the priority. Plow the sidewalks in the city first! I know this is easier said than done because the City is obligated to follow Provincial guidelines, but I believe it’s worth pursuing and making some adjustments to the rules.
Sidewalk clearing first would have the effect of ensuring a safe and accessible walking option for all, whether for getting to work, getting to school, accessing community mailboxes, daily exercise and dog walking – all while encouraging a low carbon mode of travel – so important for the health of the population and the environment.
Today cars and trucks can easily cope with snow up to about ten centimetres on the roads and it would mean reducing the speed of the vehicles and that would also be a good thing!
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