Email to Don Ness, Mayor of Duluth, on Duluth Digs, an initiative to "encourage people to do a little more to keep sidewalks clear."
As you know from some of my Reader Weekly articles on walking in Duluth, I'm all for keeping sidewalks clear for pedestrians. I applaud you and Duluth Digs for attempting to make Duluth a more walkable city, but I'm pessimistic it's going to happen for two reasons.
First, wherever there is a narrow boulevard, which is anything less than four feet, snow plows are going to dump a huge amount of snow on the sidewalks. This snow is not the light, fluffy, new-fallen snow, but heavy wet gunk. It is not easy to lift. Because of this, many people don't even attempt to shovel their walks.
We were away during one of the big snows last winter. When we came back our sidewalk was covered with three feet of ice and snow. It was even hopeless to do with a snowblower. It was many days before a crew was able to get to our block to clear this.
Second, the mandated sump pumps are putting a lot of ice on the sidewalks. With the many rains, the ground was saturated and the pump water continued on to the sidewalks. When the temperature dropped, the standing water became ice. I did sand it, but given its unevenness, it was no fun to walk on.
I don't know how many hours spread over many days I've spent chipping at this ice, some of it two inches thick. Only today did I manage to have a strip less than two feet wide along our portion of the sidewalk.
I have just about given up walking in Duluth in the winter or after dark. In winter because the uneven surfaces lead to various muscle problems; after dark because of all the overhanging branches and protruding shrubbery.
I know in your heart you would like to follow in the footsteps of a former mayor of Eden Prairie. When asked why her city was successful in attracting businesses, she responded that they made Eden Prairie a nice place to live. Sadly, doing so today is considered a cost rather than an investment in a benefit.
References:
"Talking about walking about", http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2001-10-25.html
"In-Your-Face while Walking", http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2004-10-21.htm
"Save energy! Encourage Walking!" http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/walking_2007-12-06.html
"Save energy! Promote Walking!" http://www.cpinternet.com/~mdmagree/save_energy_2008-05-08.html
