Everything except essential services should shut down for three months in the winter in Canada. It sux that the paths aren't clear, but the northern crown should have skis and snow shoes and such.

When Walkers and Cyclists start paying the taxes on $1.20/ltr maybe then they will have the right to bitch about not having the same treatment as cars. Sure sure streets are public property but that public property is taken care of by the car owners purchase at the pumps.

Julie, the roads are built and cleared by the City of Toronto using property tax money; the Feds get the taxes in your gas. I pay the same property tax as the guy driving the car and deserve the same level of service. otherwise I am subsidizing you.

I'm in favor of not plowing roads. Let nature take its course. However if your municipality chooses to plow roads, they need to clear bike lanes, and sidewalks too; without increasing taxes. Most cities have plenty of reserves.

So the bike lanes are plowed over ... well, just cycle in the next available lane. And if the motorists are slowed down ... too bad.

As for walkways, I believe that homeowners should be clearing the snow. It's a logistical issue: throughout any residential areas, there are physically fit and able people who can do the work - leave the mechanized maintenance to the roads which we can't shovel by hand! The money saved should go to maintaining the walkways along arterial roads and where there are no residents.

Also, we should prioritize the city-implemented maintenance to intersections (residential crossroads, and traffic-light controlled): clearing the way for pedestrians at these busy sites, and clearing the slush, etc.

Here in Scarboro, we receive the sidewalk plowing even though we never asked for it or wanted it ... and still most don't want it. Indeed, most people do their walks ... but the prospect of 'the plow' has given people reason to be lazy and not bother. Meanwhile, the arterial roads where we need the service isn't being done soon enough or good enough ... precisely because we're wasting so much time in the residential areas.

It's in such 'tough' times that we need to pull together ... to toughen-up and uphold our obligations. Isn't that what society is all about?

My sympathies. I imagine it might be tough organizing a little demonstration group ride to bring attention to the problem.
If the lane is just separated by a pavement marking, then I guess it's go and take the (car) lane. If you are taking about totally separated lanes, that stinks big time because the regular roads are probably too scary.

I must admit that in NYC there has been good attention to bike issues. You can actually see the approcahes to bridges and paths being improved.
When they re-paved Second Avenue, I thought the bike lane would be gone forever. But they actually made MORE lane space after the re-paving.

The snow removal on one of our main separate bike lanes, the West Side / Hudson River Greenway has been good. Although we aren't subject to the snow volume you get Up North.
The bridge paths get salted and cleared too. Much of this is thanks to Transportation Alternatives /.transalt.org and other groups that try to help get things done.

Good Luck,

vsk

Unfortunately it will probably take a fatality or serious injury to put it in plain view how important clearing out the roads is during a time of snow. Personally, I wonder how many people cycle in such bitter weather, but I'd be out there myself if it were safe enough. And there's the issue...I used to run in the winter around my town in New Jersey, and the sidewalks would be so bad that I could find myself slipping, falling, and getting hurt...and that wasn't even a question of commuting...

Have you written in to your representatives or city council to hear what they say about the issue of safety?

------
Benjamin Jones
http://www.ecomodder.com

Julie,

I don't even know what you're doing on this site. Two questions:
1) Do you really think gas is the only way that motorists pay for roads? Everyone pays taxes to maintain and build roads. And I suspect that cars do many orders of magnitude more damage to roads than bikes. So tell me how that's fair.
2) Don't you think that encouraging walking and cycling will empty the roads of people that create traffic and hamper your [apparently] precious lifestyle?

Hello,

I expect that we of Buffalo, get things somewhat similarly to those in Toronto. I can tell you that I have to regularly deal with drivers who think that bicyclist need to be dealt with differently then cars.

In a one lane street if a car stops to take a left turn, the cars behind don't complain or swear and show signs of road rage. But if I were to carefully and cautiously take a left through both the traffic going with me to my left, and also to by pass the traffic that is opposing me. Without hindering them mind you, I'd occasionally have problems with those angry people.

I have to agree with as I have the right to use the roads, and that a driver has the priveledge I am of the opinion that plows and salting should be done in a manner that allows traffic by both.

As a species we do not hibernate and we need things, so I believe we should determine ways to get through these items.

However I would love to also suggest that once again, if we were not as sprawled out, it would only be easier. Buffalo and its suburbs and exurbs are a serious problem, and I know other areas are under the same threat.

Merry Christmas, and a happy new year.
Andrew M. Marconi

Roads are required for emergency services: fire crews, ambulances and police. Bike paths are not.

Roads are required for shipping of goods like food, goods that keep people and the economy alive. Bike paths are not.

For much of the year, bike paths are a healthy and intelligent alternative for some. In the winter, especially after a major snow storm, bike paths are not.

As I'm normally a pedestrian/cyclist, not surprisingly I'd like to see the city clear the sidewalks and bike lanes with the same enthusiasm as they do the streets. However, if we accept the premise that resource constraints don't permit that solution, frankly I'd have to pick road clearing as the priority.

Whether we like it or not, our economy is based on things that move by road, not by sidewalk. It's not much use having a nice quick walk down to the local market when they don't have any food because the trucks couldn't get through. Not to mention that if I have a heart attack shovelling snow, I'd prefer that the paramedics didn't have to take me to the hospital on foot.

A heart attack from shovelling? Sounds like you'd be better off walking a bit more, driving a lot less;)

Here in Minnesota, they declare "snow emergencies" wherein all the cars most vacate certain streets so the city can plow curb to curb. It works, an it makes the streets safer for everyone. This applies primarily to the big streets... I often have to walk my bike that first few blocks until I hit a major road. But when I get there, the going is relatively easy.

The fact of it is, I would probably attempt to bicycle in most anything, and I see people out in worse weather than I would brave. The less we put the bicyclists at risk for wheel diversions that could put them into traffic, the less we put the drivers at risk for hitting people.

This is common practice most places I have lived. My bike now sits locked on my porch, till the sun shines warmer. I could walk, but same thing...few sidewalks and most are impassable. So it's time for the bus.

what city dosnt do this?i i ride my bile all winter in the pennselvania and if i had to wait for them to plow th bike path..ha ha i would never get any were.iv had to ride in the street for 20 winters, and it is safer because the street is salted and plowed.im luckey they plow the city streets at 8:00 at might and thats when i go to the store,usaly only one crash a year.

I sympathize. Until I moved to Madison, WI, I had no hope for clearing of bike lanes, paths or shoulders. They plow them away here just about as soon as the roads. It really gives us all options for getting around, especially in the more "walkable" parts of town.

It can definitely be done.

I, too, think citizens should shovel walks; I, too, want to be sure emergency and supply vehicles can get around!

We have our troubles, too, but there are efforts to improve all fronts - accessible pedestrian ways, bike ways and automobile ways - and we will all benefit because of it.

Those who are upset at the bicyclists: We'd be crowding the road more if we were forced back into the cars, so be glad we are on our bikes!