Pedestrian's group! Pavements and paths in icy weather

Esqui

I just walk down the middle of the road. Most of the busiest roads have navigable pavements anyway, but my road has very icy pavements.

[Deleted User]

pitkin2020 wrote: »

I agree pavements should be treated with grit but its just not logisticaly possible. Firstly there is a shortage of grit which is giving councils a headache deciding which roads are priority over others. Secondly pavements aren't accessible by the gritters, even if the spreading could spray it far enough most pavements have cars parked next to them! So that would mean someone would have to do it by hand, or extra machinery would have to be bought, but even then it would still be a slow process and would take days to grit all the pavements in a small town.
Personally I would rather they grit the roads so the ambulance can get to the people who slip on ice and break there ankle/wrist rather than they grit the paths so people can walk to the shops!!

I'm not suggesting that the responsibility should be *solely* the Council's/PTB's ... For example I stock up on dishwasher salt at the start of winter just in case. But if there was some forethought and co-operation between all tiers of government down to parish councils and residents then those broken limbs might not occur!

My FB group is also about helping one's self and others through this spell of ice.

And it's not about going to the shops - it's about essential journeys to the GP, Hospital clinics etc, Pharmacies. I think it telling that in our little village local area there have been thankfully no serious car accidents (and no injuries) but currently I need both hands to count the serious falls, fractures and hospitalised people due to untreated footways.

pitkin2020

All I did after the snow stopped was to sweep the paths to stop the snow turning to ice. I appreciate not everyone is able to it for themselves but you'd have thought your neighbours would help out. Unfortunetly the era helping others has long gone, everyone just looks out for themselves now (and no im not 60, im 25). If everyone just did a little bit it would be easier on everyone as a whole.
I dont know if anyone is watching the news but they are saying we are going to be in this cold spell for quite some time, also they are no longer gritting the hard shoulders now either due to the dwindling supplies of grit.

[Deleted User]

pitkin2020 wrote: »

All I did after the snow stopped was to sweep the paths to stop the snow turning to ice. I appreciate not everyone is able to it for themselves but you'd have thought your neighbours would help out. Unfortunetly the era helping others has long gone, everyone just looks out for themselves now (and no im not 60, im 25). If everyone just did a little bit it would be easier on everyone as a whole...

Very true! I called my elderly neighbour even if I'm not physically able to walk over to her to help I know someone who could - but I think most neighbours these days don't even *think* about the people who are aged or diabled and might not be able to shovel snow... sad, innit!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=242539337329&ref=mf

Lube

Dave I didnt say its correct I meant to imply the perception is that you may. you ony have to turn media on to see others are concerned

What wants doing to to clear this up once and for all. As I said before common sense should apply, if you got a idiot washing the car on road when its freezing or about freezer then fair cop if someone falls/accident as a result of the idiots action, it

WestonDave wrote: »

Lube - the bit about being sued is a bit of an urban myth. Most legal experts suggest that whilst its theoretically possible, its unlikely unless you could be proved to have left the surface dangerous due to maliciousness or negligence. As far as I know the only ever case of someone getting sued for this was someone who cleared a path by chucking hot water over it - of course it then froze and left a sheet of ice. That said a change in the law requiring people to do it, would remove all doubt.

Optimist

WestonDave wrote: »

Lube - the bit about being sued is a bit of an urban myth. Most legal experts suggest that whilst its theoretically possible, its unlikely unless you could be proved to have left the surface dangerous due to maliciousness or negligence. As far as I know the only ever case of someone getting sued for this was someone who cleared a path by chucking hot water over it - of course it then froze and left a sheet of ice. That said a change in the law requiring people to do it, would remove all doubt.

A law requiring people to clear public paths would be difficult to enforce a "Good Samaritan Law" to protect people who go to help others, from liability would be better. Obviously they wouldn't protect from stupidity if you clear ice with hot water you would still be liable.

Hintza

http://www.orizo.it/prodotto.php?id=1301&cat=79&sottocat=3

Get the proper footwear?

geri1965_2

Hintza wrote: »

http://www.orizo.it/prodotto.php?id=1301&cat=79&sottocat=3

Get the proper footwear?

They don't have my size.

I've ordered some chains/grips for my shoes but they haven't arrived yet.

liam8282

pitkin2020 wrote: »

I agree pavements should be treated with grit but its just not logisticaly possible. Firstly there is a shortage of grit which is giving councils a headache deciding which roads are priority over others. Secondly pavements aren't accessible by the gritters, even if the spreading could spray it far enough most pavements have cars parked next to them! So that would mean someone would have to do it by hand, or extra machinery would have to be bought, but even then it would still be a slow process and would take days to grit all the pavements in a small town.
Personally I would rather they grit the roads so the ambulance can get to the people who slip on ice and break there ankle/wrist rather than they grit the paths so people can walk to the shops!!

Funnily enough I have seen the local council gritting the pavements close to my work this week.

There were 3 men who seemed to have the task of clearing the paths and gritting them.

They also had a fuel operated snow plough which one of the men could guide along the path, while another followed gritting.

I admit this is this first time I have seen this, and the area is only around a small out of town shopping area in Leeds (Crossgates), so I was very surprised to see this myself.

pitkin2020

liam8282 wrote: »

Funnily enough I have seen the local council gritting the pavements close to my work this week.

There were 3 men who seemed to have the task of clearing the paths and gritting them.

They also had a fuel operated snow plough which one of the men could guide along the path, while another followed gritting.

I admit this is this first time I have seen this, and the area is only around a small out of town shopping area in Leeds (Crossgates), so I was very surprised to see this myself.

Are you sure it was the council? The shopping center could have arranged to have this done, either way its good to see.
Funnily enough I went out to the car this afternoon and was speaking with a neighbour who had collared the gritter on themain road and asked him to come and grit our carpark, and they actually did. Whilst im pleased as I could get my car out it seemed to be a bit of a waste really as the car park only has 5 cars in it and 3 havent moved all week when they could get out. By tomorrow it will be back to the icy hill it was the day before.