We use taxpayer money to plow Minneapolis ice rinks.
Let’s invest more in ensuring the sidewalks are clear & accessible for everyone who needs them.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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Hashtag
#PlowMplsSidewalks
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I hope a Snowblower Guy™️ (gender inclusive, credit @flanknits.bsky.social ) finds their way to your sidewalk!
Bryant (both sides) feels like such an easy place for us to launch more municipal sidewalk clearing.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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2 plows on 35W as it snows
This morning I walked home over 35W. There was only ~1 inch of snow on the ground, but plows were already out doing their thing on the highway.
Meanwhile, the sidewalk I was on will likely not get cleared for hours or days.
We *all* need clear sidewalks in winter.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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Well cleared curb cut getting covered with more snow
So long, finally cleared curb cuts.
These corners were piled with over a foot of snow from street plowing for more than a week and finally got well cleared… just in time for another 7-10” of snow. 😔
I wish we prioritized & funded pedestrian infrastructure more.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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We have the technology.
Let's #PlowMplsSidewalks! ❄️
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Snow covered sidewalks outside of a charter school
Snow covered sidewalks outside of a charter school
I don’t think overburdened schools should be responsible for sidewalk clearing.
This is the state of sidewalks outside a charter school many days after snowfall.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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From earlier this week…
Multi lane highway cutting through the city: perfectly clear
City street: well cleared
Sidewalk: covered in snow (w/ many footprints)
We need more investment in clearing our sidewalks so everyone (not just drivers) can get around in winter.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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Photo of the outside of Golden Valley Products (36th/Bryant) w/ their walkways cleared but snow all over the sidewalk.
It’s very odd that we entrust the clearing of public sidewalks (which are part of our transportation network) to private property owners & businesses.
We get results like this business that cleared only their walkways & left the rest of the sidewalk covered in snow.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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And I have lots more photos at this hashtag: #PlowMPLSsidewalks
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Ever wonder what happens to all of the snow that’s plowed to ensure car drivers have clear streets?
It gets piled at corners/bus stops/ crosswalks for people who 🚶🏻/🦼/🦽/🚌 to contend with.
Not great. Let’s #PlowMPLSsidewalks
(Don’t worry, I walked my bike over these piles, didn’t ride it.)
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@ourstreetsmn.org Every time it snows I see such clear issues with our current approach to sidewalks, especially impacting folks with mobility needs. #PlowMPLSsidewalks is so needed!
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In a completely different part of town I also saw this today.
I am assuming the wheelchair user got stuck (due to uncleared sidewalks & a messy intersection with the alley). I hope they’re ok.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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Photo of a one way street plowed of snow, next to a protected 2 way bikeway plowed of snow, next to a sidewalk covered in snow. Laura’s kids are walking in the bikelane.
Street: municipally plowed, as it’s an important part of our transportation network.
Protected bikelane: municipally plowed, as it’s an important part of our transportation network.
Sidewalk: covered in snow, despite *also* being an important part of our transportation network.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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I walk in protected bikelanes every time I’m faced with a similar choice.
We should take what we already know works for our protected bikelanes and #PlowMPLSsidewalks, too. ❄️
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Winter makes our transportation priorities so clear:
Street: perfectly clear
Taxpayer subsidized (“free”) on street car storage: almost perfectly clear
Bikeway: doesn’t exist here
Sidewalk: covered in snow w/ hundreds of footprints almost 2 weeks after the last snowfall.
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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Still shot of a video of this sidewalk plowing robot clearing a snowy sidewalk.
Photo of the sidewalk plowing robot. It is an impressive beast and I need it.
Screenshot of a FB Marketplace listing Snow Removal Robot $6,500 Andover MN I invented a snow removal robot capable of commercial grade sidwalks/small parking lots or residential snow removal! The robots can be controlled from inside the truck or from inside the home with a live feed streaming robot operations. I'd love to call more and discuss details! Please send me a message and I'd love to answer any questions. :) I will throw a Meyer BL240 salt spreader that can attach to the back (240 pound sof salt). $6,300 put into this project so far plus more labor hours than I'd like to admit. I hope it can help the right person out - I'm happy to just chat about the project to anyone curious as well.
Be the municipal sidewalk plowing you want to see in the world... and buy this impressive beast! 😍
#PlowMPLSsidewalks
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Photo of a street with free car parking on both sides. It is well cleared down to pavement or close to it. The adjacent sidewalk is covered in snow with lots and lots of footprints showing the pedestrian traffic volume.
You know you’re in the US when the space for taxpayer subsidized “free” car parking is cleared better than the sidewalks where people walk and use wheelchairs.
Seems like something we should fix, right?
#plowMPLSsidewalks
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#plowMPLSsidewalks
Because I don't believe residents who can't safely walk across ice/snow covered sidewalks (most of us) should have limited mobility all winter OR be forced to move somewhere warmer.
This isn't a complicated problem. We just need to decide it's important & fund it accordingly.
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Photo of an intersection with a bus stop Street: well cleared within hours Taxpayer subsidized “free” car parking: clear within 24 hours Sidewalk & bus stop: untouched 48 hours later, but lots of footprints from all of the folks who rely on this sidewalk.
Winter makes our transportation priorities so clear.
Street: well-cleared throughout snowfall
Taxpayer subsidized “free” car parking: cleared within 24 hours
Sidewalk & bus stop: untouched 48 hours later, w/ lots of footprints from all of the folks who rely on this sidewalk.
#plowMPLSsidewalks
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Photo of a street that is cleared to pavement. The adjacent sidewalk is covered in snow with tons of footprints from folks walking through the unplowed snow.
Our streets & highways are critical parts of our transportation network.
So are our sidewalks & bikelanes.
We should plow the sidewalks, not hope property owners will clear them quickly.
The latter creates accessibility & safety issues for thousands every winter.
#PlowMPLSSidewalks
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Photo shows a street and protected bikeway cleared to pavement. The sidewalk is covered in snow with lots of footprints. Someone is riding a fat bike in the bikelane.
Ok, hear me out, … what if we decided people who rely on sidewalks to get around in winter ALSO deserved safety, accessibility and comfort?
#PlowMPLSSidewalks
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This business provides a helpful example of what NOT to do:
1) only clear snow from the sidewalk space immediately in front of the door (& ignore the rest)
2) park a car on the snow covered sidewalk
Look at how clear the street is vs the sidewalk & bus stop. #plowMPLSsidewalks
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Uhaul has priorities. Clearing the sidewalks of snow according to Mpls rules is not among them (except their driveway).
Our current system of asking property owners to clear sidewalks is not reliable & creates accessibility issues throughout the city. #plowMPLSsidewalks
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The snow was so wet this morning, my 5yo said walking in it was “like drinking a slushy with our feet.” ❄️
On days like today, I’m really glad our walk to school includes a bikeway… it’s ALWAYS better cleared than the sidewalk.
#plowMPLSsidewalks
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I think all of these apartments contract with the same company to clear the whole half block at once. Took just a few mins with a snowblower, and made my experience as a ped so much easier this morning. Now let’s do the whole prioritized ped network. #PlowMPLSSidewalks
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#PlowMPLSSidewalks because pedestrians shouldn’t have to rely on protected bike lanes to have safe, cleared space to walk (for transportation, leisure or exercise) in the winter.
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