Those who don’t shovel snow in Colorado Springs could be cited
Another snowstorm and another snow day spent shoveling the sidewalk.
It’s a grueling task familiar to Colorado Springs residents. Some love doing it, for safety reasons. Some do it in front of their home and their neighbors’ homes.
And some people hate the task, and say they’ll clear their walks when the city plows their streets.
Regardless of how residents feel about the age-old bugaboo of sidewalk clearing, Colorado Springs law states they must do it.
City ordinance requires that residential sidewalks must be cleared 24 hours after snow has stopped falling or by 5 p.m. of the next business day. Property owners in violation could get a warning or a citation. The city can even clear the sidewalk and bill the homeowner, although this rarely happens, the city claims.
Enforcing the ordinance is another challenge. The city has four inspectors who police snow removal, but they only respond on a complaint basis.
The city did not respond to requests for a timeline for sidewalk-clearing after this week’s storm.
The storm dumped more than a foot of snow on Colorado Springs between Sunday and Tuesday, and The Gazette asked readers for their thoughts on the city’s ordinance. Dozens of people responded on Facebook. Some defended the ordinance, others just as decried the lack of plowing on residential streets.
“The city doesn’t even plow our street in Villa Loma,” wrote Eva Seifert-Aragon. “They shouldn’t get too mad if someone can’t shovel once in a while.”
Others protested that the rules remained intact following the storm, which hit the area with the most snow from a single storm since 2006.
“I shoveled six times and now my back is hurting. I can barely walk,” wrote Kelley Rodriguez. “We shouldn’t be held to this standard if we try but the snow doesn’t let up for 72 hours.”
But by and large, the crowd agreed: cleaning your sidewalk is best for everybody.
Dan Tavenner wrote: “It’s called being a responsible homeowner.”
Sammy Reynolds agreed: “I clear mine plus my neighbor’s. If you don’t want to clear sidewalks, don’t live in the city!”
Will Taylor lifts a heavy load of snow from the sidewalk in front of his home in the Old North End on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Will thought it was about a foot deep where he was shoveling. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Rick Boyer plows the snow from his driveway on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette.
A snow plow drives along Highway 24 east of Colorado Springs on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Highway 24 was closed last night but reopened today. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette.
Rick Boyer puts his nose to Gordy’s, his neighbor’s dog, after giving him a bone and plowing his driveway on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette.
Cows wander through snow drifts off Highway 24 east of Colorado Springs on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Highway 24 was closed last night but reopened today. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette.
People help a driver who got stuck in the snow at Woodmen and Highway 24 east of Colorado Springs on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Highway 24 was closed last night but reopened today. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette.
A plow clears deep snow from the roads at the University Village shopping center on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
A plow clears snow from the roads at the University Village shopping center on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
A man digs through the snow to make the area more accessible for Costco customer at University Village on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Icycles hang down in front of the tiles at the Historic Van Briggle Pottery. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
A snowblower is used at 2000 Wok on Fillmore St. to make the sidewalks passable on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Ducks huddle together on a pond in Monument Valley Park on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Icycles hang down in front of the tiles at the Historic Van Briggle Pottery. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Will Taylor lifts a heavy load of snow from the sidewalk in front of his home in the Old North End on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Will thought it was about a foot deep where he was shoveling. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Will Taylor clears snow from in front of his home in the Old North End on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Will thought it was about a foot deep where he was shoveling. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Old North End in the snow on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette
Josh Wells sleds with his daughter, Scarlet, 4, down High Drive off of Gold Camp Road on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette.
Josh Wells sleds with his daughter, Scarlet, 4, down High Drive off of Gold Camp Road on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette.
Denise Spangler, Tina Vidovich and Ava Spangler cross-country ski down High Drive off of Gold Camp Road in Colorado Springs. Gazette file
A cross-country skier glides down High Drive off of Gold Camp Road on Tuesday, February 2, 2016. Photo by Stacie Scott, The Gazette.
Traffic is slowed on I-25 southbound at Garden of the Gods Tuesday, February 2, 2016, after a truck slid off the highway into the median in slick conditions. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette