SNOW WORRIES
Dianne Breton of the Snow Moles, a community group that monitors winter walkability, says the city has upped its snow-removal game this year. But some, including city councillor Shawn Menard, are pushing for better standards.
There's both good and bad news about the city's efforts to keep sidewalks and bike lanes clear of snow in Ottawa winters.
A survey released this week by Coun. Shawn Menard suggested the residents he represents, in Capital ward, were dissatisfied with winter maintenance of sidewalks and bike lanes. Menard is calling for major improvements.
But there's already anecdotal evidence that the city is upping its game. A spokesperson for the Snow Moles, a volunteer group that reports on winter walkability in Ottawa, said sidewalks seem to be in better shape this season.
The results of Menard's report are based on a November 2020 survey of 515 residents, mostly from the urban core. Nearly half of respondents reported being injured in a fall caused by poor winter maintenance.
Menard said the situation has improved since then, thanks in part to increased snowplow coverage of sidewalks and a less intense winter. Still, he said he's not completely satisfied with the current state of winter maintenance.
“It hasn't been adequately handled and the reason … is that the maintenance quality standards are 20 years old,” Menard said.
The standards haven't been updated since 2003.
“Given the survey responses that we've had … it seems very clear that sidewalks need to be cleared at the standard of what roads are being cleared at, which is bare-pavement status,” Menard said.
The city has recognized the need to revisit the standards and a review is underway, with findings to be presented to city council in September.
“The clearing is actually not bad. (The city) has tweaked their system and the plowing of the sidewalks is quite good,” said Dianne Breton, community leader for the Snow Moles Old Ottawa East sector.
The Snow Moles, who have been gathering data through questionnaires, will be sharing their findings with the city this year. The top priority is safety for pedestrians, especially the elderly and people who use mobility devices.
“It's so important, particularly in this year with COVID, that people feel encouraged to go out and walk in the winter,” Breton said.
She hopes the review of the winter maintenance standards will yield constructive results. “Hopefully there will be more budget money put into snow clearing and I think it will make a difference.”
After Tuesday's snowstorm, Bay ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh saw complaints in local Facebook groups from drivers about pedestrians walking on the road because sidewalks hadn't been cleared.
“I think they should move (snow clearing) up in terms of priority,” Kavanagh said, but she also acknowledged it's been a quieter winter for problems related to sidewalks, bike lanes and winter maintenance.
Kitchissippi ward Coun. Jeff Leiper said he's seen a “sharp reduction” in complaints about sidewalks this winter.
“Staff instituted a number of operational changes that have actually led to more compliments than complaints,” Leiper said in an email.
The city has readjusted its existing resources to provide overnight coverage of sidewalks when necessary, Alain Gonthier, the director of roads and parking services, said in an email statement.
This allowed clearing to start sooner after a snowfall, “which helped prevent snow and ice buildup, and provided a safer pedestrian transportation network,” he said.
Gonthier said the city also developed “heat maps” to help prioritize areas, including school zones and long-term care homes, and purchased more icebreaking equipment.