UPDATE - 2:07 PM: The sidewalk on Fairmont Avenue has been cleared (see photo at bottom)
Two days after the snowstorm, pedestrians in downtown Bethesda are still finding some dangerous stretches of sidewalk. Montgomery County requires property owners to clear sidewalks abutting their property within 24 hours of the conclusion of snowfall. Shown here are several spots along Woodmont, Cordell and Fairmont Avenues. Perhaps not surprisingly, the vacant properties associated with the 8008 and 8000 Wisconsin redevelopment projects are among them. 
Leaving sidewalks unshoveled actually becomes more dangerous as time goes on, as snow that initially may provide some traction for the able-bodied begins to melt. It then refreezes as visible or black ice, causing pedestrians to fall, or to walk into traffic in the adjacent roadway to get around it. While one of the properties on Woodmont is a former Montgomery County public parking lot, ownership of that lot transferred from the County to the 8000 Wisconsin developer last year.
Leaving sidewalks unshoveled actually becomes more dangerous as time goes on, as snow that initially may provide some traction for the able-bodied begins to melt. It then refreezes as visible or black ice, causing pedestrians to fall, or to walk into traffic in the adjacent roadway to get around it. While one of the properties on Woodmont is a former Montgomery County public parking lot, ownership of that lot transferred from the County to the 8000 Wisconsin developer last year.
One private residence on the trail side of Wisconsin Ave down at the end toward DC cleared their pad but never touched the sidewalk. MCPD needs to hold their feet to the fire.
ReplyDeleteRules for thee...
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, Elrich has in his budget the purchase of 219 electric battery and hydrogen fuel cell buses continuing the transition to a 100 percent zero-emissions bus fleet by 2035. Don't tell him that the decreased performance in cold AND hot weather may leave those depending on public transportation to use magic carpets.
Robert, thank you for reporting this. It is very frustrating for people who exercise through the downtown corridor. Yesterday, even though it was cold, it was a great day to be out and I had to walk on the street for long stretches in neighborhoods and surrounding because sidewalks were not shoveled. Unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteYes adjacent landowners need to be held accountable. I see this elsewhere in the county too. Broken hips can be life altering at the least. Learning
ReplyDeleteNo offense to either you or the county police, @3:09, but do you seriously think a department, criticized as resoundingly as MCPD for its perpetual understaffing, has the time, resources, or inclination to triage unshoveled walks ahead of trying to address actual felonious criminal acts taking place in the area?
ReplyDelete@3:09 - That's not MCPD responsibility.
ReplyDelete7:01 who then fines them?
ReplyDeleteDEP
DeleteIs DEP overtaxed too?
Delete