WATCHDOG: Snow shovelling is an act of responsible citizenship

JOE COOPER

February 4, 2010

Wiarton Willie saw his shadow Tuesday morning, heralding six more weeks of winter, which I am sure is not being welcomed with cheers of joy, especially after seeing the snow that accompanied the groundhog's prediction.

Snowfalls are a good way of measuring how well a community is functioning as it shows how individuals co-operate with their neighbours to solve a common problem.

A neighbourhood where sidewalks are consistently kept clear of snow by a large number of people demonstrates how a high degree of civic co-operation makes walking easier and safer after a snow storm.

Those neighbourhoods where snow clearing is inconsistent demonstrates how the lack of civic co-operation on the part of some people contributes directly to unsafe sidewalks.

I was thinking about that simple social science experiment as I was walking home during this last snow fall, where I was able to observe the current levels of civic co-operation found in East York.

Not surprisingly, the citizens of the former borough continue to exhibit the civic qualities that make our community one of the best to live in within Toronto.

However, a surprising number of people did not bother to shovel their sidewalks, or were dumping their snow directly in the street, both of which makes walking or driving treacherous.

City bylaws state that the owners of any building, be it occupied or not, and that has a sidewalk situated beside a roadway located somewhere beside it, must clear that sidewalk 12 hours after a snow fall ends.

To their credit, many an East Yorker can be seen clearing their sidewalks while the snow is falling in order to make sure that their neighbours have a safe passage.

However, while many people are clearing off their sidewalks promptly, and their driveways as well, there is one trend that I am seeing that should be stopped by next snow fall.

That is the practice of shoveling snow out onto the roadway, be it from a sidewalk or a private driveway.

Not only is this practice illegal, it makes road snow removal difficult for city work crews and can create a serious safety hazard for all vehicles using that section of the roadway.

That shoveled snow is not the same as what fell, and being compacted by a snow shovel, can quickly form into ice that can contribute to a serious accident or road hazard.

Under Toronto bylaw 719-5, a person convicted of shoveling snow onto city streets is covered under section 61 of the Provincial Offenses Act and is liable for a fine of not more than $5,000.

The fine is very high because that shoveled snow can cause a true road hazard with snow turning into a dangerous ice patch and as a result is treated as a very serious offense.

So the next time the snow falls, be a responsible citizen and clear it properly by doing it legally.