VIDEO: Got your salt and shovel standing by?

You’ve probably heard by now that we MIGHT see some snow next weekend. Too soon, stlll, to really go into all-out Snow Panic Mode, but not too soon to contemplate whether you’re ready for it. In particular, the video above points out one thing that often comes up in WSB comment discussion when things get snowy: If there’s a sidewalk adjacent to your residence or business, you need to be ready to clear the snow/ice. More specifics here. We’ll talk more about snow readiness if the flakes stay in the forecast as the week proceeds. P.S. Need inspiration? Here’s a fun February flashback.

HS January 7, 2020 (8:38 am)

Well done and informative video. I’m getting salt today.

Cycleman January 7, 2020 (9:52 am)

I was all for shoveling until the blonde lady had to throw in climate change. Now, makes me not wanna do it. Someone always has to bring politics into it.

WSB January 7, 2020 (10:00 am)

Perhaps you are being sarcastic. Climate change isn’t politics. It’s reality. If you are saying you don’t believe in reality, doesn’t matter, you’re legally obligated to clear your sidewalk.
- Christian Castro January 8, 2020 (12:36 am)
  
  Yes! It isn’t politics and I’m happy you said that. The only country in the world that still believes science is a political debate.

webshaf January 7, 2020 (12:54 pm)

And for those who don’t want to be bothered or can’t clear their sidewalks…call a neighbor, find a kid in your neighborhood who wouldn’t mind doing it(cash helps!) And if you work at a school, please suggest to your students that a great way to earn money is to notice who needs shoveling and ask if they would pay($5? or maybe $10 to ensure a clean sidewalk for the whole day?) No shovel???? Check with your older neighbors…someone has one and might lend it to you if you offer to shovel them also. Or do it for free and build your karma(maybe go in pairs if you are going to knock on doors)

AJP January 7, 2020 (7:29 pm)

True! I had a kid ask to borrow our shovel one year, I think he made $100 in a day!

Jenny January 7, 2020 (2:59 pm)

It surprised me how few of the Junction churches shoveled their sidewalks last year. (Very few residences too, of course that wasn’t a surprise.) While this video is a great reminder, I think ticketing might be the only way to make people care.

J January 7, 2020 (4:54 pm)

Also, dont be so quick to assume people are lazy or inconsiderate when their sidewalks aren’t shovelled. I shovelled mine during the last big snow day, and it snowed again throughout the day while I was at work. After a 12 hour workday I got home to someone walking by and yelling at me for not having clear sidewalks. We all can’t miss work to shovel all day.

Cycleman January 7, 2020 (5:17 pm)

Legally obligated?!?! We’ll see. I’ll take my chances. The police rarely ticket for fireworks and I doubt their out hunting for snowy sidewalks.

KM January 7, 2020 (6:29 pm)

Good for you cycleman, sticking it to your neighbors, the cops AND the blonde lady! You are tough!
KBear January 7, 2020 (9:36 pm)

Cycleman, why not get a gas powered snow blower? Then you can meet your legal obligation to clear your sidewalk while exacerbating climate change at the same time! Fire it up first thing in the morning and you’ll be popular with all your neighbors!

Mj January 7, 2020 (5:29 pm)

Jenny agreed. One of my neighbors, a transplant from Chicago, says in Chicago they vigorously cite non compliance with the requirement to keep the sidewalk adjacent to their property clear!

CAM January 8, 2020 (12:54 am)

Not in my multiple decade experience there. You are legally liable if someone injures themselves because you didn’t maintain the pedestrian way. That’s usually more than enough to keep people motivated. Businesses on the other hand will get fined if they don’t do snow removal regularly.

I. Ponder January 7, 2020 (5:46 pm)

This is a terrific video. Additionally, when you park your car across the sidewalk you are potentially limiting access by people who are unable to walk around your car. I see this all the time.

Jason Gordon January 7, 2020 (6:40 pm)

Sidewalks? Some streets have those? Wish I had one to salt/shovel.

Mj January 7, 2020 (10:37 pm)

Jason you can form a LID with your neighbors to pay for a sidewalk, sidewalks are typically paid for by the abutting property owner.

Shawn January 8, 2020 (6:36 am)

What happens if you are disabled and can’t shovel your sidewalk and no one does it for you??

CAM January 8, 2020 (10:27 am)

Owning a home means you take on certain responsibilities. This is one of those things that you are required to do. If for some reason you can’t complete a task yourself you are responsible for making sure someone else does it for you. That would usually mean paying someone else.

zark00 January 8, 2020 (3:35 pm)

West Seattle Tool Library has two shovels in stock according to the site – $1.00 to borrow it.Home Depot on Delridge has $14 snow shovels – site says 14 of them in stock. Lander has 10 $16 ones in stock (different model hence diff price)Amazon has a two handled one for $22 that’s free delivery Sat for Prime.The two handled one is kind of nice, I think it’s easier to heft a full shovel of snow with those.If you rent, and your landlord didn’t include snow removal in your renters agreement, you technically are not responsible for snow removal – but, if you are at all capable of doing it, please do. Out of town landlords often don’t (or can’t because of the snow) come and clear walks regardless of what they put in the renters agreement. It can be a thankless pain, but you could easily save someone from serious injury with even a not-so-great snow removal job. Home depot has Ice Melt, supposedly pet friendly, 20lb bag for $15 – I think it’s like a 1/2 cup of ice melt per sidewalk square. So a 20lb bag should cover the sidewalk in front of the average house with lots left over. Ice melt works better than rock salt. Rock salt, though, is only $6 for a 25lb bag. Salt just stops working at about 15 degrees, ice melt is like -15. Really either should be fine around here, and def better than nothing. I didn’t know this: on Jan 31st 1950, it hit ZERO degrees in Seattle. But we haven’t been below 15 degrees for over a decade. Zero, that would be nutso.

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