RSS FeedMake Way for Walkers
March 17, 2010 at 10:36am by PEDS · 2 comments(Consider submitting this article to your community newsletter!)
Finally after an unseasonably cold, rainy winter our beautiful trees, bushes, flowers and shrubs are beginning to flourish! Please check to see if spring has sprung into the pedestrian path. Do you know, as a property owner you are responsible for trimming trees or vegetation along the sidewalk in front of your house?
Sidewalks should be accessible to all people, including wheelchair users and the visually impaired. The American’s with Disabilities Act says the clear zone must be at least 36 inches wide and 80 inches high. No bushes, flowers or grasses should protrude into the sidewalk area. Please make way for walkers by trimming your hedges and tree branches.
If the vegetation is in the public right of way (the grassy strip between the street and the sidewalk) and too big for you to handle, you may need to contact your local public works office. If the overgrown sidewalk belongs to a neighbor, start by politely asking the property owners to trim their plants so pedestrians can safely use the sidewalk. If the vegetation is on land owned by an absentee landlord or a government agency, such as a park or transit station, use PEDS’ hazard reporting tool to report it.
Walking through the neighborhood is a great way to enjoy the greening and flowering of spring. But it’s no fun if you’re ducking and side-stepping to avoid vegetation. So please, remember to make way for walkers by keeping your sidewalk area clear. Thanks!
Do you have any suggestions on how best to approach a neighbor who puts their trash smack in the middle of a sidewalk where there is no sidewalk on the opposite side of the street?
We certainly have some ideas that wouldn’t necessarily fall under the “best approach” category. :- ) But for a non-confrontational response, we’d suggest taping a polite and prominent note on the trash can saying something like “FRIENDLY REMINDER: Please keep your trash off the sidewalk. Sidewalks are a public asset that we are fortunate to have in this neighborhood. We appreciate your help in keeping your sidewalk clear. Thanks so much.” You could sign it with your name, or you could remain anonymous by signing it “Residents Who Walk.” Give that a try.