I think "costs too much" does get to the root of the problem, which is that
it is probably too much for the resources we currently have. The next
question of course is how willing are we to put more resources towards it,
in employees, equipment, and materials? Since that ultimately comes down to
tax dollars, it then becomes a taxpayer priority debate.
On Wed, Dec 5, 2018 at 12:00 PM Carson Wood <cwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Good Noontime.
I was once ridiculed by a Westbrook City official when I pointed out
how well Quebec City keeps their sidewalks cleared. I was told it cost too
much with the official rolling their eyes.
In Quebec City all the fire hydrants and utility poles are on the
inside of the sidewalks rather than in the sidewalks like in Westbrook.
This is because the sidewalks were an after thought as well as when
roadways are rebuilt, moving these objects are not factored in.
The cost of locating these objects inside the sidewalk are easily
recaptured by easier snow clearing ability and by better conditions for
pedestrians.
*From:* wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On
Behalf Of *John Brooking
*Sent:* Wednesday, December 05, 2018 11:31 AM
*To:* wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [wsmac] Snow issues research links
Below is a list of links related to snow issues in Portland and around the
world, from our guest Nick from last night's meeting. Nick is leading an
initiative to improve things in Portland, as part of his involvement in
"Open Maine", a "civic technology" group that seeks to apply technological
solutions to civic problems. (If you are interested in this, the next
Portland meeting <https://www.meetup.com/OpenMaine/events/jmkjhqyxqbpb/>
is next Tuesday.)
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: *Nick Kaufmann* <nkauf87@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, Dec 5, 2018 at 10:04 AM
Subject: Re: WSMAC
To: John Brooking <johnbrooking4@xxxxxxxxx>
Thanks John it was great, nice group. Here are the links:
Stuff about snow clearance in Portland:
https://www.portlandmaine.gov/1422/Winter-Sidewalks
https://www.portlandmaine.gov/429/Winter-Operations
https://www.pressherald.com/2017/02/02/portland-can-fine-you-for-not-clearing-your-sidewalk-so-why-arent-the-ones-on-city-property-clear/
https://www.pressherald.com/2015/02/13/portland-cracking-down-on-snow-shoveling-scofflaws/
http://www.zacharybarowitz.com/how-to-survive-a-sidewalk.html
https://wgme.com/news/local/portland-residents-file-hundreds-of-complaints-about-snow-ice-covered-sidewalks
https://www.pressherald.com/2015/02/11/when-helping-hands-needed-maines-snow-angels-carry-a-shovel/
Stuff about snow clearance in other cities:
http://walkboston.org/what-we-do/snow/ #clearcurbcuts
https://www.citylab.com/solutions/2015/02/a-community-approach-to-clearing-snow-from-sidewalks/385173/
https://www.citylab.com/solutions/2016/02/wheelchair-users-disabled-weather-snow-storm/459855/
https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2014/01/stockholm-proposal-make-snow-plowing-priorities-better-women/7977/
http://snowangelslondon.ca/
http://www.smartchicagocollaborative.org/improving-adopt-a-sidewalk/
https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/mayor/snowportal/chicagoshovels.html
https://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2018/03/syracuse_university_civic_hackathon_winners_announced.html#incart_river_home
http://willtheytow.me/
https://hackwinter2015.devpost.com/
https://www.kitchenerpost.ca/news-story/9018675-kitchener-residents-can-face-400-fine-for-not-clearing-sidewalks-of-snow-under-new-bylaw/?utm_source=municipal+world+daily&utm_campaign=c160e1bc10-email_campaign_2018_06_22_01_12_copy_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a1ce9dc899-c160e1bc10-67144157
On Wed, Dec 5, 2018, 9:35 AM John Brooking <johnbrooking4@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Nick, thanks again for attending our meeting last night! I know it was a
bit of hurdle for you getting there and back, but I think we had a very
productive initial discussion, thanks mostly to your presence as well as
Eric's.
We'd love to have a list of links to the research you've done so far,
especially the ones you showed us last night. If you'd like to pass those
along to me, I'll post them to the email list
<https://www.freelists.org/list/wsmac> and Facebook group
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/wsmac>.
See you next Tuesday!
