Sidewalk Snow Clearing

I do think that sidewalks should be cleared, but I have a problem saying that the city should do it, given the terrible job that is done on the streets , I hesitate to say that the city should do it. Those who clear the streets leave mounds of snow on the streets at the intersections so that it is almost impossible to get to the streets to cross, they leave big piles of snow at the ends of the streets, and sometimes they leave some streets unplowed while plowing others several times in a row. Also, the job done clearing the bus stops can leave big piles of snow across the sidewalk on either side of the stop. And using snowblowers or the small bobcats on the sidewalks tends to leave a layer of snow that either is or becomes very slippery with the sun on it. Asking the city to clear sidewalks feels like asking for trouble, but since many do not clear the sidewalks that is also trouble--between a hard place and a stone

Being in a wheelchair there are 3 issues that happen every year with snow clearing
1) City of Hamilton: The snow is not cleared on the ramp between the sidewalk into the crosswalk at intersections. (The transitions slope to get off the sidewalk) The slush and snow is left making it impossible to cross the street and continue on the sidewalk.
2) Homeowners. They only clear a path the width of their shovel in front of their homes/businesses. It is too narrow to take a wheelchair or mobility device through. Does the bylaw specify they must clear the whole walkway? Can I complain?
3) Homeowners do not clear their sidewalks at all.

I worked for a neighboring municipality and the service was not any faster. More damage was done to lawns through new operators not knowing the area .
Keep the same don't raise taxes!!!!!!

I worked for a neighboring municipality and the service was not any faster. More damage was done to lawns through new operators not knowing the area .
Keep the same don't raise taxes!!!!!!

I'm happy with the current process.
The city can't afford another expense or higher taxes.
Good neighbors help seniors.
The current practice is better standards and faster then the city can do.
I strongly recommend keep it the present program.. keep taxes down.!!!

Hamilton's vision is "To be the best place to raise a child and age successfully". At present, if you have young children in a stroller is it difficult and unsafe for months of the year to walk to your local library, grocery store, or school. As a senior, there is an elevated risk of serious injury from having to walk on snow- and ice-covered streets. I frequently see people with walkers, grocery carts, strollers, and scooters on the road in winter because that's the only place they can move. Because the city plows the roads.

We are also in what council declares a "climate emergency". It is unacceptable that driving is privileged over walking in this situation.

Wake up, Hamilton, and act in a way that matches your words.

Why does the survey have so many personal questions completely unrelated to snow removal? How does my relationship status, sexually identity or how I came to reside in the city have anything to do with this? And your ableist language is dreadful. Not everyone who navigates a sidewalk walks, so the term “walkability” should be ditched.

Removed by moderator.

The sidewalks belong to the city. It has a legal and moral responsibility to keep them safe. Safe for wheelchair and walker users as well. Get the snow and ice off the sidewalks within 12 hours after each snowfall, to a standard where anybody can use the sidewalk. It can be done by changing the by-law and the method of enforcement (immediately clear any non-complying sidewalk and put the cost on the tax bill of the property owner). Get it done!!!!!!

Probably not worth it.

The city can make a capital investment in plows and do the job far more efficiently than individual home owners with shovels. But they can't do it as fast (citizens outnumber the city workers). And if they only go when there is over 5cm, and don't clear the surface, then citizens still need to have shovels, and ready to shovel. They also still have to handle their driveway, or at least the path to the door if the property is occupied.

I think most homeowners would only be willing to spend a few bucks a year for the service.

Probably easier to step up bylaw enforcement, esp on businesses that don't shovel (leaving the elderly to crawl over snow mountains).

Walkability could also include rollability

The city must clear all sidewalks as in Scenario 3, including all bus routes and all residential streets. It is unacceptable that wheelchair users have been forced to go on the road due to the inaccessibility of the streets, putting their safety at risk.
I am low income and I am more than willing to pay a 35$ annual increase because I value disabled folks’ lives and I value accessibility.

I would be happy to pay a bit more each year so that everyone has safe access to sidewalks in the winter. We are lucky that we live on highway 8 in Stoney Creek and the sidewalks are usually cleared by the city due to empty lots and city properties. But I know that there are many vacant homes near me (thanks to the Scube plan for new roads) that would not get cleared no matter how many bylaw tickets were given and that is not safe. We all have to check our privilege a little bit if we have a home and are capable of clearing our own snow - up to $50 PER YEAR isn't much to help out our neighbours and make sure everyone is safe getting around the city.

Not every issue should be solved by raising taxes. Hamilton is drowning in pandemic debt already. Neither the City nor its residents can keep throwing money at problems without considering alternatives.
We have a by-law that fines households that do not clear their sidewalks within 24 hrs. What we need is officers to enforce that by-law. No more warnings, go straight to fines. The those of us who are diligent in making sure that our sidewalks are passable would not be on the hook for those who don't care and can't be bothered. In effect, we would be paying their fines! Not Fair!

The city's winter preparedness plan including the sidewalk snow removal is critical for all residents - families, children/students, seniors, and visitors doing business or pleasure in Hamilton.
I strongly support Priority 1 and 2A Roadways.

Clearing all sidewalks (Option 3) should be a priority for the city. The city has the machinery and manpower to make short work of it. Many people do not have the capacity (ie. Seniors), or the time (ie. shift workers) to get it completed within 24 hours. Clearing all the sidewalks for everyone would be the most cost efficient thing for everyone in the city. Raising taxes by a small degree (only $35 annually!?) to take care of this valuable and necessary service is the right thing to do. Are we even going to notice an extra $35 per year? I think not. And, that is far less expensive than hiring someone else to do it. For those who wish to shovel their own sidewalk, they are still welcome to do it before the plow arrives. For the sake of all citizens, paying a tiny bit more each year seems a like a no-brainer, for the good that it would do.

We are Canadian's. Get dressed for the task and get it done in a timely manner. If you can't shovel because you don't have any legs or arms - hire someone or live where you are not responsible for clearing snow . Take the money on installing electronic ticketing systems and hire people to walk the streets and if not cleared within 24 hours and send the property owner a ticket. People get away with things because they can. Be a responsible government.

To support seniors and help them to keep their homes, we want the city to clear the sidewalk snow.

In an article in the Hamilton News last year Councillor Jackson said it would cost taxpayers approximately $35 per year to have sidewalks cleared. I would gladly pay that to have the sidewalks cleared by the city. Shiftwork and long hours often makes it a challenge to do the job myself within 24 hours. And it would be impossible to hire someone to do the job all winter for a mere $35. I'm all for it!

Yes, we want the City to clear the sidewalk snow