Snow/Ice cleaning policy in Seattle (neighborhoods, closing, bus)

[SitoUK]

Hiya

today is my first snowy day in Seattle and I was wondering how the sidewalk policy cleaning is like in this town?

I was walking to work today (as usual) from Capitol Hill to South Lake Union and most of the sidewalks were clean, it seemed like salt had been used. The only stretch that was really slippery are the 100 yards or so across the I5 on Denny way. I only made it across there by clinging on to the hand rail.

Would the City usually clean all sidewalks or whose responsibility is that? As it was today it doesn't make much sense to me. Why would everything be snow-free but the bridge? Walking usually takes you anywhere even in snowy conditions but on this bridge there is some potential for serious pedestrian injuries. It seems stupid to wait for a bus just to cross the bridge but if it stays like that I might have to do that.

[AlohaHuey]

Originally Posted by SitoUK

Hiya

today is my first snowy day in Seattle and I was wondering how the sidewalk policy cleaning is like in this town?

I was walking to work today (as usual) from Capitol Hill to South Lake Union and most of the sidewalks were clean, it seemed like salt had been used. The only stretch that was really slippery are the 100 yards or so across the I5 on Denny way. I only made it across there by clinging on to the hand rail.

Would the City usually clean all sidewalks or whose responsibility is that? As it was today it doesn't make much sense to me. Why would everything be snow-free but the bridge? Walking usually takes you anywhere even in snowy conditions but on this bridge there is some potential for serious pedestrian injuries. It seems stupid to wait for a bus just to cross the bridge but if it stays like that I might have to do that.

I believe that most businesses are responsible for clearing their sidewalks. I wouldn't expect the city to do much; they are working on the roads.

Bridges freeze faster than roads because the cold air is allowed to also pass under the roadway, so the sidewalk was likely affected by the same phenomena. Might have been too cold for salt to do as much melting as the sidewalks.

[burlshoe114]

I don't know if we actually have a "policy," most businesses just start handing out shovels and salt to employees. Same thing in neighborhoods - We just start digging.

[SitoUK]

Well, it seems the policy is closing icy roads...at least Denny Hill was closed last evening when I walked home. So I could walk on the edge of the road which was perfect because there was a cap of snow...much better then the icy sidewalk...