Passing The Buck On Snow Removal?

Here's a topic a lot of people had an opinion on the other day when we talked about it.   A Cheektowaga man was struck and killed this week after being forced to walk in the driving lanes of Transit Road because the sidewalks were clogged with snow.   Who should take care of removing snow from sidewalks?

By law, property owners are required to remove snow from in front of their homes and businesses within a reasonable amount of time, but how often are tickets issued for violations?  My biggest beef is with private snow plow operators who plow snow from parking lots onto sidewalks.  They argue there's no place else to put it.  That's their problem.  They should have had that figured out ahead of time.  It forces pedestrians - children, the elderly, the disabled - into the street inviting tragedy.  I enjoy taking walks in the winter time, but I often end up mountain climbing over piles of snow alongside Niagara Falls Blvd. 

One plowing contractor brought up a good point.  He says state or municipal plows come by and remove 3 or 4 lanes of snow from heavily traveled roads and deposit it on sidewalks and he's forced to figure out how to remove the snow from the sidewalks.  If someone is injured while walking in the street because the sidewalk is clogged with snow, why are he and property owners held liable?  Good question.  The government plow put the snow there.  I guess it's called passing the buck.  

With another winter storm headed our way this weekend we've got more snow to deal with.  Have any comments?  Enter them below.  I'd like to hear your thoughts.