Everyone should have the option to move freely about the City throughout all seasons. Snow and ice covered sidewalks that impede pedestrian mobility is unacceptable. During Winter 2018-2019, people across Ottawa were trapped in their homes, unable to access transit, or experienced numerous slips, falls, and inconveniences due to lack of snow removal on sidewalks and at bus stops. Immediate action is required to ensure that no more people suffer from isolation, injuries and aren’t required to take great risk to leave their homes.
What You Can Do:
Please share our petition with your network and communities, and speak out to your representative using this easy email tool. We hope to send a strong message to City Council that another winter of inaccessible sidewalks is unacceptable. We need Class 1A standards - that is, snow clearing to bare sidewalk levels - across the city
Petition for Improved Snow and Ice Clearing from Sidewalks
To: Ottawa City Council, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON, K1P 1J1
Winter 2018-2019 was uncharacteristically severe with several freeze and thaw cycles. This winter, pedestrians across Ottawa struggled through the ice and snow as roads continued to take priority over other modes of transportation. Ottawa needs to be prepared for ongoing winters with treacherous conditions and take the necessary steps to ensure that Ottawa’s most vulnerable communities are not disproportionately burdened by the effects of climate change.
I/We the undersigned, petition Ottawa City Council and the Transportation Committee to:
- Bring snow clearing standards of all sidewalks in the City of Ottawa to a Class 1A standard.
- Commit $7 million a year to bringing winter sidewalk maintenance to a class 1A standard, starting in the 2020 Budget.
- Conduct a cost/benefit analysis of the costs incurred from slip/fall and vehicle damage liabilities compared to how much it would cost to bring winter sidewalk maintenance to a class 1A standard.
- Take an equitable approach to snow clearing - redevelop the snow clearing schedule to prioritize sidewalk clearing over road clearing, and prioritize the mobility of Ottawa’s most vulnerable residents.
By signing this petition, I hereby acknowledge that this petition will become a public document at the City of Ottawa and that all information contained in it will be subject to the scrutiny of the City, and will be publicly available. Questions about the collection and disclosure of personal information contained in this petition should be directed to the City Clerk, 110 Laurier Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 1J1.
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