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A gentle reminder to please shovel your sidewalk

A reminder from a reader to take care of your sidewalks today/Saturday:

Removal of Rubbish, Debris and Snow from Sidewalks

If you own property bordering on a public sidewalk, it is your responsibility to keep the sidewalk free of rubbish, debris, litter and snow.

Snow must be removed within six hours after a snowfall ends. If snow stops falling during the night, snow must be removed from the sidewalk before 11 a.m. the following morning.

Contact the Department of Public Works, 311. Violation of the snow removal ordinance is a Class 4 misdemeanor. Violation of the debris ordinance is a Class I misdemeanor.

Also a good neighbor does not park in their neighbor’s snow cleared parking space.

I’m going add that that if you’ve got the opportunity, go the extra step and clear the sidewalk for an elderly neighbor (even if they’re crotchety).

19 comments

GracieLou 01/22/2016 at 10:52 AM

Don’t forget to check in with other neighbors, too! Not everyone has a snow shovel handy. 🙂

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K 01/22/2016 at 11:43 AM

Unfortunately, the snow will muffle the sound of your plea falling on so very many deaf ears.

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K 01/22/2016 at 3:14 PM

Glad someone has time to worry about snow on the sidewalk. Just glad that nothing else seems more important.

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Kathleen Sanders 01/22/2016 at 7:34 PM

Just do it! If nothing else, it’s good exercise.

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bozatwork 01/23/2016 at 8:14 AM

Please be safe though when shoveling. It’s strenuous work and can trigger heart attacks: http://www.nbc12.com/story/31034081/vcu-health-tips-to-keep-in-mind-while-shoveling-snow

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Brian Colegrove 01/23/2016 at 3:48 PM

This ain’t even a worry until tomorrow. I’ve shoveled 3 times and it’s like I never set foot outside.

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Chimbo 01/23/2016 at 4:46 PM

Appreciative of all the actual good neighbors commenting on here that are concerned about the safety of others and offering to help their neighbors as opposed to snow removal ordinances and claims to cleared parking spaces.

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Lee 01/23/2016 at 5:31 PM

I have what will probably come across as a stupid question, but here it goes:

If I don’t have a yard, and there are cars parked on the curb, where exactly am I shoveling it to? I realize this sounds silly, but there isn’t really anywhere to put it that won’t be in the way of pedestrians or drivers – unless I shovel half the sidewalk and pile it up on the other half. Is that kosher?

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Dubois2 01/24/2016 at 9:26 AM

That’s pretty much it I think. Last I looked the city asks that we don’t shovel into the street – which seems like a good policy, given that cars need to park near curbs for the plows to run – and the snow has to go somewhere.

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frank p 01/24/2016 at 9:48 AM

Richmonders aren’t bad people. It’s just that no one ever taught them about their civic responsibilities.

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Bill Hartsock 01/24/2016 at 3:17 PM

#3 Looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the world today!

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Hill Runner 01/24/2016 at 5:19 PM

@9 The best thing I can think of is what I’ve seen, build a wall between your car and the middle of the sidewalk leaving a small path for people to get by.

I don’t think this is really about the ordinance, it’s about being a good member of the community and a good neighbor.

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Melinda 01/26/2016 at 3:59 PM

Good reminders… It’s the same for weeds when they start coming up on sidewalks.

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