A section of sidewalk on the east side of Pleasant Street near Pearl Street is impassable for Jeremy Macomber-Dubs, of Northampton, who uses a wheelchair to navigate his neighborhood.
A section of sidewalk on the east side of Pleasant Street near Pearl Street is impassable for Jeremy Macomber-Dubs, of Northampton, who uses a wheelchair to navigate his neighborhood. Credit: STAFF PHOTO/JERREY ROBERTS

Last week’s article about patchy sidewalk clearance highlighted one group of people who are impacted by our current sidewalk clearing system. There are many more, and even if the law is followed to the letter, it is discriminatory. Why? Property owners have 24 hours after a storm ends before they are required to have their sidewalks clear, while the roads are cleared quickly by the DPW. If a storm lasts one day, that’s two days where it is legal for the sidewalks to be impassable. Imagine if the roads were cleared on that timeline?

This is dangerous and inconvenient for people who have to or choose to walk. Young people, people with disabilities, seniors and public transportation users are disproportionately affected. Less walking means poorer health, more driving and negative environmental consequences. Why doesn’t Northampton clear its own sidewalks of snow, as many other cities do? Let’s reprioritize the budget and begin to change this inequity by implementing a designated high-priority sidewalk plowing route: sidewalks that lead to schools, downtowns and public transportation, and along especially dangerous roads. Property owners would be responsible for maintaining the sidewalks after the initial plowing.

Amherst has this hybrid system: www.amherstma.gov. Please join me in advocating for the city to study, find funding for, and implement a solution to this issue.

Alex Jarrett
Florence