We Got A Shovelful When We Asked About Snow Removal [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — We got a shovelful when we asked Patch readers for Block Talk what they do when their neighbors let the snow pile up on their sidewalks.

The lessons of Mister Rogers, whose long-running public television show taught millions of children about empathy and grace, served kids who are now adults well, as many of them routinely shovel their neighbors’ snow — without being asked and without the expectation of payment or even thanks.

Hold on to that. Many others are silently simmering, and some have turned the heat up to a full boil.

“As a responsible property owner and good neighbor, I keep my sidewalks clear but when it comes to my neighbors I mind my own business but silently curse them,” Carrie, a New Lenox Patch reader, commented. “If you are incapable of maintaining your own property, you should be able to hire someone to do it or move to where an association takes care of it.”

Some people said they take care of the neighborhood sidewalks because someone could be hurt or unable to get where they need to be if they didn’t.

“We ended up snow-blowing down to the corner, so my son could stand at his bus stop,” a Joliet (Illinois) Patch reader wrote, adding, “My neighbor sucks.”

‘I Will Call The Police’

Elizabeth, a Doylestown Patch reader, is also no-nonsense about it.

“If it’s my next-door neighbor, I will clear it along with mine,” she said. “Otherwise, I will call the local police.”

She thinks township officials where she lives should do a better job educating new homeowners, especially, about their responsibilities.

“This creates quite a hazard for dog walkers and school children,” she said.

Jim, a Framingham (Massachusetts) Patch reader, agreed that giving residents an annual heads-up would solve a lot of problems ahead of big snowfalls. And, he said, “I wonder if it wouldn’t make sense for the town to send out the notice in multiple languages, reminding people of their obligation.”

Heather, a Lower Southampton (Pennsylvania) Patch reader, thinks habitual non-shovelers ought to face some consequences, she said.

“It should be more enforced, especially on streets with school bus stops,” she said. “My neighbors almost never shovel, and I’ve seen my kids need to walk in the street, around their sidewalk, to get to the bus stop.”

Marlborough (Massachusetts) Patch reader Matt heard that, too.

He said he has complained in the past, but has been told the ordinance isn’t enforced. “I shovel my sidewalk, leave their sidewalk,” he said, “and make a cut-out from the end of my sidewalk to the street.”

Jay in Joliet made it three.

He said he clears the entire walk to make it safe and passable for children walking to the bus stop and others heading to a nearby church. “Even when we clear the walks on our corner lots, the city snowplows push snow directly to the corner and mound the snow in front of the [Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant] ramps,” he said. “Also, business owners in the city do not clear the public walks in front of their property. There is no enforcement of this supposed requirement.”

And Richard in Romeoville made it four.

“At times the sidewalk is very close to the street and when the snow plows blow by it throws very heavy salted snow onto the sidewalks which even the gas-powered snow blowers cannot handle. We have many older (over 60) residents on our street as well as women who can not shovel heavy wet snow,” the Romeoville (Illinois) Patch reader said, adding:

“The village needs to be aware that their snowplow drivers’ plowing makes it difficult for some residents to remove snow from driveways and sidewalks.”

‘Watch It Melt’

Kevin, who reads Montgomeryville-Lansdale (Pennsylvania) Patch, falls somewhere in the middle of the sidewalk on the question. If his neighbors don’t shovel, he will “do it for them if they’re not known jerks.”

Ben’s neighbors may qualify. The Tinley Park (Illinois) Patch reader doesn’t think much of their snow-clearing tactics.

“My neighbors use their snowblowers to shoot the snow onto the sidewalk in front of my house, leaving a perfect stop line at the property line,” Ben said. “Douchebags for sure.”

Ben was on a roll, and we are fairly certain he was smirking when he wrote this: “I love clearing the end of the driveway to have the snow plow come by three consecutive times and bury me back in. That is my favorite.”

John’s, too.

The Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch reader said township plows push “wet slush up on my sidewalk that is so heavy to get rid of if you’re an older person who can’t do it.”

The solution?

“Watch it melt,” he said.

‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’

Most people, though, would make Mister Rogers burst with pride.

Take Scott, for example. The Milford (Connecticut) Patch reader is that guy who gets up at first light after a big snowfall, blows out his own sidewalks and then continues up and down the block clearing his neighbors’ walks, too.

“I enjoy helping my neighbors do their sidewalks and driveways,” he said.

Kevin, a Joliet (Illinois) Patch reader, is also that guy.

“Love thy neighbor as thyself,” he wrote, explaining why he clears walks for neighbors on either side and, at times, their driveways.

“Start with kindness,” said Rachelle, an East Brunswick (New Jersey) Patch reader. “Maybe there’s a reason, like a bad back or something else going on that’s made it difficult. Start with ‘Do you need the number of someone who can shovel the walk?’ If the only reason is laziness, at least you’ve given them a nudge.”

Whether a neighbor clears or doesn’t isn’t worth getting bent out of shape about, according to Bel Air (Maryland) Patch reader Chuck. “Clear it,” he wrote. “Always help your neighbors, even the ones that don’t like you.”

“Help them out, because our neighbors do the same if we’re not able,” said Linda, who reads Glen Burnie (Maryland) Patch. “We all pitch in to help each other.”

“Shovel it for them,” said Ned, an Oak Lawn (Illinois) Patch reader. “Some people may look physically fit but may be battling challenges not immediately noticeable.”

“You never know what someone else is dealing with,” said Naperville (Illinois) Patch reader Kate, who helps out her neighbors. “Be kind.”

You almost know without asking that Vernon (Connecticut) Patch reader Tom learned this at his parents’ knee: “If the neighbor is elderly,” he said matter-of-factly, “you do it for them.”

“I snow blow the sidewalk of the four houses on either side of me. Just be helpful,” wrote Doria, a Warminster (Pennsylvania) Patch reader. “Lord knows people have helped us also.”

“Shovel it and be neighborly,” said Cindy, who reads Norwood Patch, Braintree Patch and Weymouth Patch in Massachusetts because she has family there, but lives in Chesapeake, Virginia. “Do your best. Don’t pass judgment. That’s not my place on this Earth.”

Danielle, a Narragansett-South Kingstown (Rhode Island) Patch reader, said it’s difficult physically, “but I always help everybody who doesn’t shovel or can’t shovel.”

“I live in an apartment, where we are plowed out, but we have to shovel our cars out and shovel the walkways around the property,” she said. “We all chip in and help everyone, especially the elderly neighbors and those who can’t shovel themselves.”

‘I Work For Beer’

Some people aren’t motivated as much by benevolence for their neighbors as the perks that come with doing a good thing. It’s happy hour somewhere.

“I will shovel it for them; I work for beer,” said E-Diggity, a Columbia (Maryland) Patch reader. “I like drinking beer after shoveling sidewalks.”

Don, an Elmhurst (Illinois) Patch reader, shovels his neighbors’ walks, if for no other reason than to stop them from firing up the snowblower and creating a bigger problem.

“I despise when people snow-blow snow into the street,” he said.

Marie, a Hicksville (New York) Patch reader, feels the same when her neighbors' shoveled snow ends up in her driveway.

Sarah, a Frankfort (Illinois) Patch reader, said some of her neighbors take a lackadaisical approach to snow removal. “Very few households shovel their front walks,” she said, adding she generally uses her snowblower on the walks fronting houses on either side “even though both families are younger — by at least 30 years — than I and healthier than I.”

Ralph, a Brick (New Jersey) Patch reader, shrugs his shoulders when his neighbors don’t shovel.

“I ignore it,” he said. “In my neighborhood, most use the streets to walk in, even on non-snowy days because there is little traffic.”

And besides, he said, “half my neighborhood has no sidewalks, so what good does it do to require snow removal from sidewalks?”

Let it be, said Peabody (Massachusetts) Patch reader Julie.

“We have no sidewalks, and the plow driver sucks,” she said. “If the city can’t do the job right, then no one should be held accountable.”

“The city should be responsible for that,” said Elmhurst Patch reader Lisa wrote. “We pay enough property taxes.”

Buried Cars, Though

Elizabeth, a Concord (New Hampshire) Patch reader, said sidewalk plows are part of her city’s winter storm arsenal. A few other people said their local governments could do more to help people, especially older Americans, who are unable physically to shovel snow, but can’t afford to hire someone to do it for them.

Maria, a Gloucester Township (New Jersey) Patch reader, is 70 and disabled. Her area “could use some reasonably priced people to assist the elderly,” she said.

“I will shovel the walks/driveways of elderly neighbors who don't have a service helping them,” said a Darien (Illinois) Patch reader.

And some people actually prefer it when people don’t bother with clearing snow.

“I appreciate the traction of the snow. Snow removal often causes black ice, which is far worse than snow,” the person said. “It’s a personal decision, and should never be required. Snow is natural; icy sidewalks are dangerous.”

Rach, a Peekskill-Cortlandt (New York) Patch reader, doesn’t have any beefs about sidewalk snow maintenance, but said “it’s annoying when you shovel a spot in front of your home for your car only to find your neighbor, who never shovels their car out of a spot, parks in your shoveled spot when you leave.”

Put shoveling energy into something that matters more, an Across America Patch reader said:

“Just don’t drive with it on your car. Otherwise, I don’t care. It’s just snow.”

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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