Assuming there is no snow blower handy, a shovel is a necessary household accessory. The drive must be cleared for vehicles to pass in and out of the garage, but don’t neglect the front walk and the sidewalks.
Shovel those Sidewalks
The very good reason for clearing walkways can be summed up in one word: liability. The municipality the house sits in has an easement for the sidewalk; but make no mistake, the sidewalk belongs to the homeowner and all the attendant liability with it. In most municipalities, the city has no responsibility to clear a sidewalk on private property. If a passerby slips, falls and breaks something, the homeowner could be considered negligent for not clearing the walk to make it safe.
Beyond the legal issues in a litigious society, it’s polite to clear the sidewalks. Children walk to school or to the corner to catch a bus, pet owners walk dogs year-round and some people choose to walk or run outdoors for exercise. All these parties appreciate a clear sidewalk.
Pile Snow with Discretion
Now that the decision to clear the surfaces has been made and the shovel or snow blower purchased, decide where to put the snow. Putting the snow back into the street is not going to work. The plows will come and throw it back into the drive. The neighbors’ property is also a bad choice for most people.
Pick a spot that will be out of the way. Moving snow twice is no fun, so piling it in front of something that must later be used or moved won’t be worth the effort. A low spot is a good choice, because it reduces the amount of snow lifting necessary to clear a space. The lawn will absorb the runoff in the next thaw, so areas with grass or open soil should be preferred over an area of pavement.
Take care of the body doing the shoveling. Stretch first, drink water and bundle up. Dehydration can happen in cold weather. Drink fluids and take frequent breaks. Get help. Shoveling is more fun in pairs. People with prior health conditions should be discouraged from shoveling.
Look Around
There are other items in the neighborhood that need attention when it snows. It is sometimes necessary to shovel an area in front of a mailbox so that the Postal Service can easily deliver the mail. It’s polite to shovel in front of a bank of mailboxes, even if the other owners are strangers. Fire hydrants should always be uncovered. If the snow is so deep around a fire hydrant that the firefighters cannot find it or use it, clear away from it.
Remember the homebound and the elderly. Call a neighbor or two and help someone out. The neighbor with the snow blower might not help the able-bodied, but just might come out to help the physically challenged.
Remember too, that neighbors watch each other. The impression made on a snowy January day may come back to haunt during the loud Fourth of July party. Living so close to neighbors makes etiquette a useful and necessary tool.
Resource:
Sixteen Cardinal Rules for Snow Shoveling, Popular Mechanics, Feb 9, 2010
Eilene Toppin Ording - Eilene Toppin Ording comes from a wide industrial and educational background. A farmer's daughter from Minnesota, Eilene is an active ...
