Tag: snow

One minute, one slide: #ClearCurbCuts snow clearance video

Below is a “One Minute, One Slide” presentation shared by a member of the WalkBoston staff.
Text provided is as presented at this year’s annual event on March 29, 2018.

Brendan Kearney

Board member Nina Garfinkle & I contacted Amy Corcoran Hunt, who posted a message to a South End Facebook Group encouraging neighbors to shovel curb cuts to help those that have strollers or wheelchairs. Here’s what ensued:

That’s been viewed over 60,000 times since it was posted in mid-January! (across YouTube, Twitter, Facebook)

Featured in the South End News
Amy talked about mobility challenges in the snow to WBUR
Board member Carol Steinberg quickly penned a follow up letter to the editor in the Boston Globe.

We’ve re-shared it after the next few storms & it has received a big response each time.

If anyone is interested in working w/ Amy and others on our newly formed snow clearance committee, please reach out!

#ClearCurbCuts links

We’re happy that people have found the need to clear curb cuts an important story. We list media clips on our website, but we’ve listed below some of the social media links and media coverage this particular project received. Please let us know if we missed any others that you’ve seen and we can try and keep this current.

This video was also shared to Twitter & Facebook

Boston Globe: “Letters – Snow removal shouldn’t leave treacherous terrain behind for wheelchair users“
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/letters/2018/01/12/snow-removal-shouldn-leave-treacherous-terrain-behind-for-wheelchair-users/yJPfm14Dy8RGCQTcfppWsN/story.html

South End News: “#ClearCurbCuts”
http://www.mysouthend.com/news//news//254529

WCVB: “Snowbanks, ice leave city an obstacle course“
http://www.wcvb.com/article/snowbanks-ice-leave-city-an-obstacle-course/15065097

WBUR: “Mobility Challenges In The Boston Snow“
http://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2018/01/11/mobility-boston-snow

#ClearCurbCuts Letter to the Globe

To highlight challenges pedestrians face daily, WalkBoston produced a short video showcasing Amy Corcoran Hunt, who uses a wheelchair, navigating curb cuts 5 days after a snowstorm. In just 3 blocks Amy encountered 6 impassable curb cuts. The video was posted on Twitter and Facebook and viewed 55,000 times. WBUR then interviewed Amy, Channel 5/WCVB did a piece on the video, and the South End News featured it on its front cover. A letter to the editor by WalkBoston Board member Carol Steinberg followed:

During these snowy, icy days, we want to remind everybody to keep curb cuts completely cleared at all times so that wheelchair users are able to cross the streets like everybody else. I have often rolled to the end of a shoveled sidewalk, only to find the curb cut blocked with snow.
When my path is blocked and I stop, looking desperate, kind strangers will sometimes attempt to hoist my power wheelchair over the piles or stop traffic to help me cross at a driveway. We certainly cannot rely on the kindness, availability, and possible muscle power of strangers.
We must handle the snow so that everybody can get around.

Excerpt of Boston Globe letter 1/12/2018 WalkBoston Board member Carol Steinberg

This article was featured in WalkBoston’s March 2018 newsletter.
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Mobility Challenges In The Boston Snow

WBUR: “Mobility Challenges In The Boston Snow”

Navigating a city with snow on the ground is difficult enough as it is, but what about for mobility impaired residents?

WalkBoston, a nonprofit that makes walking safer and easier in Massachusetts, produced a video about Amy Corcoran Hunt that draws attention to the mobility challenges that poor plowing and shoveling can bring.

Posted January 11, 2018

“Keep it clear” – WalkBoston’s Snow Removal Report

Sidewalks are key to Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure. Walking is an integral part of virtually all journeys and has health, environmental and community benefits. Year-round walkable sidewalks deserve the attention and encouragement of all levels of government and all members of the community. Improving the pedestrian realm serves us all. Snowy and icy sidewalks pose a challenge to Massachusetts pedestrians.

Most cities and towns hold property owners responsible for clearing sidewalks abutting their property, yet sidewalks often remain impassable days after a storm. Even in municipalities with adequate snow removal ordinances, enforcement does not keep up with those who do not clear, and current state law limits fines to no more than $10 per day in towns or $50 per day in cities. In response to many comments from Massachusetts pedestrians and observations by our staff, WalkBoston has developed basic recommendations to improve sidewalk snow and ice clearance.

Brendan Kearney

Download WalkBoston’s Snow Removal Report (PDF)