Description
I walked two blocks to my bus stop (80 bus at North Capital and T St NW/NE) this morning. I had to walk through 2 feet of snow and walk in the street to get around 5 foot snow drifts (from the plows, presumably) just to get there. For the second time this winter, after a heavy snow I had to stand in the middle of the street to wait for the bus. There were 4 of us waiting in the street. An old man actually walked in front of the bus while it was pulling up - luckily the bus driver saw him - but there was no margin of error, and it was pure luck that no one got hurt. Why isn't it standard practice to plow the sidewalks and crosswalks of major streets (like North Capital, Rhode Island, etc.) after a snow storm? After I got off the bus at North Capital and H St, I had to walk literally 20 feet into the road to get around the snow drift the street the plows created. I feel so marginalized as a pedestrian and bus rider, and the grumblings I heard on the bus tell me I'm not alone.
21 Comments
Eileen (Guest)
This is a systemic problem throughout DC (as well as MD and VA) and it is exacerbated by snow plows. These practices deny pedestrians equal protection, and burden the fundamental right to walk, all for the sake of drivers, who are exercising a privilege, not a right. The city should put the needs of pedestrians ahead of all drivers, except for emergency vehicle drivers.
Terrified College Student (Guest)
I live on a college campus in Baltimore and since the snow I haven't received mail from USPS all week. I need to go to the local post office to pick up an important 'express' package that should have been delivered last week. If I don't, it will be 'returned to sender'. My campus is closed, I'm a non-driver and THERE ARE NO BUSES RUNNING here. I have been forced to walk in narrow streets to get to where I need to go since snow plowed from the streets has been dumped onto pedestrian paths. I cannot express to you how dangerous this is. If I make it back in one piece I shall share my story...
Allison (Guest)
Snow in crosswalk at H St and North Capitol
Allison (Guest)
Huge snow pile blocking Randolph Place sidewalk on North Capitol (taken Feb 12).
Allison (Guest)
Un-plowed snow on sidewalks on North Capitol overpass - whose house is "adjacent" to this??? Taken Feb. 12
Erica Lee Schlaikjer
To read Allison's blog post about this issue, check out TheCityFix DC:
http://dc.thecityfix.com/snowstorm-erases-pedestrian-connections-in-d-c-%e2%80%93-again/
Anonymous
At the intersection of Connecticut Ave and Porter St in Cleveland Park (right in front of the gas station) there is a huge snow mound with no pedestrian clearance. Several people fell this morning or were forced to walk in a busy street. This is a dangerous situation and could easily be improved by shoveling a safe pathway at this busy intersection.
Anonymous
There is no reason for pedestrians to wade in water and slush at intersections - provisions should be made by the District to insure these areas are clear ensuring pedestrian's safe movement. However, how can we expect this when the intersections are even a mess for vehicles!
A comprehensive plan needs to be adapted with the worst case scenario - allowing it to be scaled down given the current circumstances. The main priority is to allow pedestrians and vehicles equal protection.
The budget for SNOW REMOVAL at present is not realistic, also strict enforcement of the DCMR should be enforced.
Friday, while waiting for a bus, standing in the middle of the street (unplowed stop) I witnessed a newspaper deliverer stop his car on the street (Connecticut Avenue) and deliver papers then twenty minutes later he came back and made a U turn.
Allison (Guest)
The bus stop/sidewalk at North Capitol and Rhode Island (in front of the new condo building) is STILL unshoveled, over a week after my first post! This is crazy! Have they gotten a ticket yet??? And I'm still seeing tons of city-owned lots or crosswalks that are unshoveled as well. When will this be fixed???
Hannah (Guest)
Attention: DC City Council & Mayor Fenty
Thank you in advance for your quick attention to the matter of unsafe conditions for pedestrians across the City.
In addition to the examples above, at Connecticut and Nebraska Ave NW, there are a total of 5 bus stops of which 0 of them are safe for students. This morning (Feb. 17th, 2010), I saw a mother pushing a stroller into the middle of Connecticut because during rush hour because there's no sidewalk. This is extremely dangerous. D.C. needs to prioritize its pedestrians FIRST, buses second, trucks & taxis third and cars (esp. those with only one person) far behind.
Closed Wes Hall
snow melted
Reopened Allison (Guest)
While most of the snow has melted, the City has yet to respond to this issue in this forum, and their "new" website says their only responsibility during a storm is to clear the streets. We need a better policy, and this should remain open until is does.
Furthermore, there are still snow piles blocking the sidewalk in at least 2 locations I've found, and I'ver heard there are many more.
Mark
Thanks for keeping this open, Allison. I'd encourage you to get some kind of response before closing.
Closed BloomingdaleDC
It's July.
Reopened Allison (Guest)
Until the issue is addressed by the city, this issue needs to remain open. Please do not close it - I will close it once I get a response from the city. And I will close the response.
Closed BloomingdaleDC
It's July.
Reopened Allison (Guest)
Elle, since you haven't been engaged on this thread BEFORE July, please stop closing the issue. You did not OPEN the issue and have no proof (or even indication) that the issue was resolved, like the commenters wanted, so please STOP closing it. When those who HAVE been engaged feel it has been resolved, it will be closed.
MJ (Guest)
Yes, it is July meaning in less than 5 months we could be dealing with this same situation again. For the safety of myself and other pedestrians, I hope it is fixed before then. There will be a public hearing this fall about District snow removal policies and I encourage all those affected to attend. Details will be forthcoming.
Closed Washington Post
Winter is over. The snow has been plowed.
Reopened Allison (Guest)
Once again, I opened this, it is still an issue and has not been addressed, so please do not close this unless you opened the issue (which I know you didn't!)
I don't know why so many people are trying to close this without ever having been involved in the discussion to begin with, and until I get a response and a plan from the City (and hopefully other jurisdictions as well), I will NOT close the item, as that's the POINT of seeclickfix - getting responses from our civic leaders.
Eileen (Guest)
I agree with Allison, and the Post's comment is not entirely accurate. Winter may be over, but the only reason the bus stops and crosswalks aren't still covered in snow is that the sun and spring did their work, sometimes aided by good samaritans. The area governments did *nothing,* as far as I can tell, to abate the problems they created. So, no the snow we're talking about was never plowed.