Monday, January 12, 2015

MISSED A SPOT (PHOTOS)

The much-vaunted Hans Riemer Magic Snowblower (a.k.a. October 2014 Montgomery County Snow Removal Law) didn't make it to this sidewalk near the flagpole at Woodmont Avenue and Leland Street, a block from Bethesda Row. This was the condition of the sidewalk Sunday afternoon, a full five days after snow stopped falling. Just one example in Montgomery County, which makes pedestrian travel difficult for those trying to reach downtown Bethesda from the Sacks neighborhood, and from the multifamily-housing communities across Bradley Boulevard.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Unless Hans Riemer owns the property next to that sidewalk, you're pettiness and sophomoric attitude is directed at the wrong place.

Anonymous said...

Also, the 2014 law didn't change anything about the requirements for clearing sidewalks of snow. It makes the county consider clearing sidewalks near bus stops and hospitals.

But far be it from anyone to ask that you, Robert Dyer, get the facts right. Clown.

Anonymous said...

If it's "just one example", then you should have posted several others as well.

Otherwise it just seems like your usual silly game of "gotcha".

And who exactly uses this stretch of sidewalk, which is barely 30 feet long? It doesn't actually connect to anything, with the block of Woodmont Avenue immediately north having been closed since September 2012.

Is the sidewalk on the south side, which actually connects to Leland Street, cleared, or not?

Anonymous said...

Presumably everyone who lives in Sacks and along Bradley would use that sidewalk to connect to the downtown, Metro, etc. So, that's potentially a lot of people.

Dyer's report is better than the Post taking photos of the council members houses and sidewalks.

Anonymous said...

How could they use it "to connect to the downtown, Metro, etc."?

The block immediately north is CLOSED. You can't get to anywhere north of Miller Avenue from here.

Dyer's little toady cracks me up.

Anonymous said...

10:45AM You can cut through the bank parking lot at Miller. Hence, you can walk from Leland to Woodmont to Miller. That's the quickest way to get to Bethesda Row and the Metro from there.

There's a lot of folks from the apartments that connect that way.

Alan said...

Yeah it's not a great cut through though. It's a driveway for the bank drive through so there is vehicle traffic.

Trespassing too for those that care.

Anonymous said...

It's odd that Dyer doesn't mention what property this sidewalk fronts.

G. Money said...

It's not in front of a property, per se. It's in front of some random bs parcel of dirt that's a remnant of when the extended Woodmont to Wisc. on the south end.

That area is a real diaper when it comes to snow removal. Some of the residents at the top of Leland were terrible about removing snow last year.

Anonymous said...

Hans Riemer's refusal to shovel this sidewalk is the reason that Barnes & Noble was forced to close an hour earlier every evening.

Anonymous said...

1 - That patch of sidewalk fronts a county owned pocket park... so, no surprise that isn't plowed, means the county would be responsible, and that's laughable. Has BethesdaUP taken care of this in the past?

2 - it's a very popular walking spot, at a specified crosswalk. And yes, people still use it there to cross the street to go to Vace/the bank/or to cut around to Bethesda Row.

3 - to Alan @ 11:37... the construction that shut down Bethesda Ave also shutdown all means to pedestrian that way too. If you're concerned about citizens walking thru the bank parking lot, then you can take that up with MoCoPo and Chevy Chase. But honestly, you're being silly even mentioning it. You'd be better off asking why cars are allowed to cut thru this driveway in the wrong direction. Should we simply walk via Wisconsin instead? Oh wait, we need to cross the street at Eastham's now, since THAT sidewalk was also taken from us.

Lesson learned- MoCo HATES pedestrians. Walkable city, my hairy butt.

Anonymous said...

Dyer, I have a scoop for you: from an inside source close to the President, the sidewalk situation is an attempt to keep the low-income folks that live along the low-rent housing on bradley from dirtying up Bethesda Row.

Anonymous said...

1:54PM: stay on topic

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

"That patch of sidewalk fronts a county owned pocket park"

The county is most certainly not responsible for clearing the sidewalk where this photo was taken. Please shut the fuck up instead of making up "facts."

Anonymous said...

If this part isn't the county's, presumably the county is filing a citation against the land owner?

Anonymous said...

2:27PM: Don't get so frustrated.

The Post took photos of the Riemer's and Leventhal's homes to monitor whether they shoveled.

Steve D. said...

Touchy crowd. There's no need to click on every single article you know.

Anonymous said...

There's no need to write every shitty article ever either, but that doesn't seem to stop Robert Dyer

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Dyer shoveled his own walk.

Anonymous said...

2:33 PM - It most certainly is the county's responsibility. No private residence fronts that sidewalk. It's a pocket park.. of the county's. If you can keep from dropping F-bombs and provide something substantial to the conversation, please do. Otherwise, crawl into whatever who you poked your head out of. Show a little respect, and maybe good things will come to you in life.

Anonymous said...

I love the way Kraut posted a picture of Woodmont Avenue this morning - with this little corner just out of the range of the image. I could swear that he was taunting Dyer again, as he did when he posted the picture of the horses' patoots in front of PF Chang's last week.

Anonymous said...

9:36 AM What's your source?
This rivalry among all of the Bethesda bloggers must be in your head, since none of them write about it.

Anonymous said...

"It most certainly is the county's responsibility. No private residence fronts that sidewalk. It's a pocket park.. of the county's."

No, it is not the county's responsibility. If you don't believe me then try taking 5 seconds out of your life, research, and realize you're wrong. Man I hate people who make shit up and then get indignant when they're called out for it.

Anonymous said...

This is embarrassing. Almost a week since the snow, and that key sidewalk was still dangerously icy.

Steve D. said...

"There's no need to write every shitty article ever either, but that doesn't seem to stop Robert Dyer

6:59 PM"

If that's your position, you could probably save yourself a lot of grief by changing your reading habits to focus on something you enjoy more.

Anonymous said...

12:10 - "No, it is not the county's responsibility. If you don't believe me then try taking 5 seconds out of your life, research, and realize you're wrong. Man I hate people who make shit up and then get indignant when they're called out for it."

12:10 PM"

1 - Prove to me that this sidewalk is NOT county responsibility

2 - Tell me who IS responsible then (either in your opinion, or using fact)

3 - Refrain from swearing. You sound like an angry 16 year old. Grow the fock up, son.

Anonymous said...

As he refrains from swearing... LOL

But seriously, the burden of proof is on Dyer, to actually document who is responsible for this stretch of sidewalk, not for everyone else to "prove that it is NOT county responsibility".

Robert Dyer said...

8:39: The story and photos show an un-shoveled sidewalk nearly a week after the snow. Hence, the County's vaunted Snow Removal law from October 2014 was a failure. Any un-shoveled sidewalk is an indication of failure. The law applies to private and public property, and was sold to the public and voters as a miracle solution that would magically remove snow from all sidewalks. Turns out it's just a PR blitz at taxpayer expense.

Anonymous said...

How long did it take you to find this 30-foot un-shoveled stretch of sidewalk, amongst the several dozen miles of streets in downtown Bethesda?

Anonymous said...

This is a busy section of sidewalk. Read the other comments. It links the entire Sacks neighborhood and Bradley Boulevard apartments to Bethesda Row and the Metro.
So, Dyer isn't focusing on some obscure sidewalk. Remember, Dyer reported this almost a week after it snowed.

Anonymous said...

Another PR blitz with no results....just like the Nightlife Economy nonsense. There's a pattern.

Anonymous said...

Hey dummy... I confirmed that this sidewalk IS the responsibility of the country and Bethesda UP takes care of it. How do you like them facts?! Man, I hate how some people just assume they know better and must shout at anyone who has a different opinion and swears at people on blogs. You must be one tough customer!

Anonymous said...

We informed Bethesda UP about the sidewalk as well as the crosswalk next to the porta potties. They did nothing. Furthermore, Clark construction would block the crosswalk with their fence.