The pedestrian crosswalk curb ramp has now been cleared at Wisconsin and Chase Avenues in downtown Bethesda. But four days after the storm ended, some sidewalk scofflaws remained around town. Perhaps not surprisingly, one repeat offender on that list is the property owner of the vacant storefronts that are part of the long-delayed Artena Bethesda apartments project at 7938-8008 Wisconsin (former Saphire Cafe and former Golden Needle tailoring shop, former Ranger Surplus), 8011 Woodmont Avenue (former Sir Walter Raleigh Inn/Bruce Variety), and the former Montgomery County Public Parking Lot 43 (sold to the Artena project by the County several years ago). County regulations require sidewalks to be cleared within 24 hours of precipitation ending (ice stopped falling around 8:00 PM Sunday night in Bethesda). Looking at the bright side, this is about as close as moribund Montgomery County gets to a "shovel-ready" project these days.
24 comments:
These cases cut off pedestrian connectivity for a large swath of the Woodmont Triangle. For days after the snow stopped.
CVS on Wisconsin never cleared their sidewalks, they plowed the walkway along their building only. Odd for a big corporation to not clear their sidewalks.
Fines are cheaper and easier, just ask the makers of OxyContin©
Yep. No enforcement whatsoever despite worst response maybe ever for only 5 1/2". You showed only commercial sidewalks which is bad enough. But I was out walking yesterday in Bethesda neighborhoods and had to walk in the street the entire time because of probably hundreds of walks not being cleared. How bout handicap and wheelchair bound citizens? So, residents refused to clear their walk and the county came in and plowed over many cross walks with snow. God help anyone in a wheelchair because they're very stuck and in real trouble with this severe cold. The county said they expect a two-hour school delay Monday. The way it's going, it could be say 6 off from school. Terrific.
Look beyond your Bethesda optics, the scofflaws aren't unique. All around the DMV, up and down the eastern seaboard the impact from this snow/ice event are paralyzing pedestrians. Added is the continuous span of days of temperatures well below freezing. QYB!
Wrongdoing that can be clearly and undeniably documented (as in your photos), and for which there is just no excuse. Even people who don't have mobility issues might get hurt trying to traverse those sidewalks.
Maybe there is an excuse after all. . . .
From Marc Elrich's Friday-night weekly email:
The Department of Housing and Community Affairs announced [apparently, on Thursday] sidewalk snow-clearing enforcement is paused until Mon, Feb 2. Due to sustained freezing temps, snow-packed sidewalks have become icy and difficult to clear. Although enforcement is paused, property owners should help their neighbors by clearing sidewalks as soon as it is safe and possible to do so. . . .
Horrible week for people who rely on their own too feet or buses. Most bus stops are not dug out. People have to traverse ice bergs board. If you want people out of their cars, things must be much better.
Wisconsin Ave, between DC and Bethesda, trail or not is an abomination! All these errant homeowners should be cited!
I took a spill trying to maneuver around uncleared sidewalk 1 block off Wisconsin, luckily only into some mushy stuff, which cushioned my fall. When I have to, I've been walking in the street (Wisconsin excepted).
Completely unacceptable! And it seems to be contagious ~ unplowed streets and unshoveled sidewalks plague the entire DMV.
The real story with this weather is school. I just read that a channel 4 weather reporter thinks that school being cancelled Monday is not at all out of the question. MoCo has already stated that they expect a two hour delay to start the week but that could change. Can someone chime in on consecutive school closures? It's tough to remember but I don't recall 5 days and maybe more out from school. Bradley Hills Elementary, as I think I stated, was completely covered and iced over as of Thursday evening. With this polar ice cap everywhere, I just don't see Monday happening. It isn't safe and it's their fault clearly. The citizens have a roll though to be sure. Other major areas that experience ice and snow don't have school closed for a week or more and that's a fact. This isn't our first storm and it wasn't even the volume of past major events.
5:13pm that always seems to be the case...roads get cleared but pedestrian and transit users are secondary concerns.
Scofflaw is one of my favorite words, up there with cacaphony & moist.
I used a chain saw to clear the 15" snowcrete wall at the bottom of my driveway.
12:36 Sorry about your fall. Orthopedists make their vacation money this time of year I'm sure. You should not have to take your life in your hands to get around as pedestrian especially in a city touting itself as walkable.
Redneck snow shovel. Only in VA. Can you imagine what would happen here in the Socialist Republic of MoCo? You'd be in jail in an hour. Hilarious video and darn effective: https://youtube.com/shorts/qU7LWX3cKLg?si=eSBWXn16C8z1qoqo
The snowcrete that we have experienced in Bethesda is no joke! I've leaved in Quebec for many years and have never seen anything like it! It breaks the machines, the shovels and our backs! We need to be patient with our residents..
9:28 - I'm not sure why we need to be patient with our residents. The residents are part of the problem. And what does the county do? Announce they are suspending citations for uncleared sidewalks. Huh?My sidewalk and front path to my front door is completely, 100% clear and has been from the end of the weather which I believe within 24 hours are the "rules". You say you've lived in Canada and never seen anything like this. Well, I've lived here all my life and certainly do not recall a response this bad for snow that didn't match the forecast. Yes, it's very cold but you can't walk on almost any sidewalks (few residents have cleared them) and driving isn't what you would call smooth. Just got back from Costco at Wheaton and there are partially cleared lanes from Stone Ridge to Wheaton Plaza. How in the world can kids return to school tomorrow safely? They can't use the sidewalk to even get close to the bus. They are going to walk in the street thru their neighborhood? I don't think so. Why wasn't the county/state better prepared? Why aren't the plow trucks running all this weekend? They're gone completely. This isn't Canada but this also isn't our first snow/ice event.
Let's give individual residents a grace period, but do corporations like CVS need more time?
And the out of state developer holding all of those Woodmont Ave avenue buildings vacant quickly got a man on the scene with a machine to clear the sidewalks, but only after the county violation notice.
FWIW they were clearing the outer lanes on Conn Ave today.
8AM Thanks! I hear you and agree. I was/am okay but am not walking around much yet due to safety issues. And driving isn't much better ~ the roads are still a mess. 12:36AM
On a positive note, the fricking park service or someone finally shoveled the clogged mess that was a sidewalk in front of Sussex 4970 and all the way down to the bike racks & Circulator, only took 'em a week...
Your basic facts are wrong. Montgomery County suspended enforcement for this storm so it was NOT required to clear within 24hrs. Basic facts are important if you want to publish information.
5:43: Why did the County issue a violation notice, then?
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