Keeping Sidewalks Clear of Snow Should Not Be a Last Priority

When snow is not cleared from sidewalks, pedestrians face significant hazards and they are less inclined to walk.

1 minute read

March 15, 2020, 7:00 AM PDT

By Camille Fink


Snow Removal

Puffin's Pictures / Shutterstock

In many U.S. cities, snow removal on sidewalks is the responsibility of property owners, an odd system where private citizens maintain public infrastructure, writes Amy Crawford.

When property owners are negligent or lack the physical or financial capabilities to clear their sidewalks, an entire block can become impassable. "For pedestrians, the result is an obstacle course of icy goat trails, towering snow piles, and puddles of slush," says Crawford.

But when cities plow streets and neglect sidewalks, driving gets priority over other modes. Some municipalities have taken on the responsibility of keeping sidewalks clear.

Crawford says that encouraging residents to use more sustainable modes of transportation, such as walking, is meaningless if safe, accessible infrastructure is not available during a significant part of the year.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, for example, the city council set a carbon neutrality goal that would require people to drive less. "But here, and in others cities across America, efforts to nudge people out of their cars were once again seemingly forgotten as soon as the flakes started falling this winter. It’s then, as plows head out to clear and salt major arterial roadways, that a city’s true priorities are revealed," adds Crawford.

Friday, February 28, 2020 in Slate

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Canada geese on lawn in city park with high-rise buildings in background in Vancouver, Canada.

Study: How Urban Parks Can Support Biodiversity

Conservation and recreation can go hand in hand in urban green spaces designed to serve both humans and local wildlife.

30 minutes ago - Inside Climate News

Rendering of Texas Central high-speed rail train stopped at covered platform in Dallas, Texas

High-Speed Rail Tracker

Smart Cities Dive follows high-speed rail developments around the country

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20 - Streetsblog USA