Turn up the heat on icy sidewalks

Re: “Plante seeks answers for icy areas” (Montreal Gazette, Jan. 8)

Mayor Valérie Plante should look to countries like Norway and Iceland that use heated sidewalks to melt away snow and ice from sidewalks, creating safer conditions for pedestrians and cleaner runoff water than when road salt and other abrasives are used. In recent years, Montreal has spent many millions redoing major streets like Sherbrooke and St Denis Sts., Van Horne Ave. and St-Laurent Blvd. And yet, it seems mayors and city planners continue to ignore modern technology that would make walking safer for Montrealers. Provincial coffers would benefit, too. Fewer broken bones would translate into fewer visits to medical clinics and emergency rooms. And the hydro electricity that would run the heating systems is abundant and relatively cheap. Former mayor Denis Coderre wanted Ste-Catherine St. to have heated sidewalks in the portions that are to be redone. This could have served as a prototype for other busy streets. But Plante nixed the plan. As this mayor should know, with climate change, variable temperatures will result in more days of ice-covered roads and sidewalks. In my opinion, she should reconsider and at least test heated sidewalks in an area under construction like Ste-Catherine or Plaza St-Hubert. Sam Kulik, Westmount