SNOW REMOVAL AND CITY CODE: 2016 PSSS emails to Mayor Kenney - http://www.smallstreetsphilly.org/MayorKenney&SnowRemoval.htm
Although the Streets Department directs property owners to
shovel snow from their sidewalks, 6.5 wide streets are allowed to do
things differently. Please read below our advice for snow removal.
This is a HEALTH & SAFETY issue, as emergency vehicles must be able to
access our small streets!
For heavy snow storms and
small approximately 6-7 foot wide streets - SHOVEL THE STREET, NOT THE
SIDEWALK!
We first shovel the street and a
path to our door, then do the sidewalk - if there's room to put the snow.
Although it's in violation of city code, the Streets Department says that
it is okay for streets that are 6-7 feet wide. Logistically, it’s about
the same amount of area to be shoveled. Even for streets that are 12 feet
wide, residents also have to shovel out their cars, so it still comes to
about the same area.
Also, don't forget to clear debris from your
sidewalks, curbs, and particularly storm
drain grates before any major snow or rain event. Otherwise
you risk flooding your street.
Right way
(left) and wrong way (right), See all 16 PHOTOS (2014 winter) on our
meetup page -
http://www.meetup.com/The-Philadelphia-Society-of-Small-Streets-PSSS/photos/25930321/434622333/#434622889.
(We have expressed our concerns about this situation to the Streets Department for several years now. See: 2010 Philadelphia Inquirer article: http://articles.philly.com/2010-02-12/news/25219452_1_shovel-sidewalk-jessup-neighbors/)
Jan 2015: Snow, salt, streets, and electrocuting dogs: This is slightly off-topic. There was a problem last year with dogs getting electrocuted, mainly at some cross walks. It appears that the snow/water/ice and salt combined with underground electric current, causes dogs to get electrocuted. People with rubber shoes don't feel it, usually. We and several others called PECO and Streets. Supposedly, the problem was fixed. However, we can still detect current with our EMF monitor, so we'll see. (Jan 2015)
LASTLY, just wanted to add
that we use a floor-grade squeegee, like the one below, to remove snow
from our street and sidewalk. It works great!