#PlowTheSidewalks

Urge your leaders to fund the #PlowTheSidewalks Pilot

In May, the City of Chicago released the 'Plow the Sidewalks Pilot Program Recommendations Report,' outlining a year's worth of work that advocates alongside the City to develop a feasible pilot program for municipal sidewalk snow and ice removal. This was a profound step forward in our #PlowTheSidewalks campaign, providing a clear roadmap and outline for the City to begin the steps of implementing a pilot.

Unfortunately, since then the City has missed key deadlines for implementation, and has failed to provide the necessary funding in the Chicago Department of Transportation's budget to move forward. While the City faces significant challenges, eliminating this pilot program does not meaningfully address those challenges. What it does accomplish is continued neglect of the needs of people with disabilities, seniors, parents with children, and beyond to participate in society when it snows.

A budget is a moral document, and by continuing to delay implementation the City is sending a message that it sees the status quo as acceptable. Join us in sending an email to your leaders letting them know it's not acceptable, and urge them to fund the Plow the Sidewalks Pilot Program.

Learn more about the pilot

The pilot ordinance for #PlowTheSidewalks took into account various metrics to select different zones across the city.

With this tool, you can explore how different metrics impact what zones would look like to keep equity at the forefront, while still taking into account the wide breath of neighborhoods and populations this program will ultimately need to service. By factoring in age, income, density, disability, and other variables, we identified pilot zones that will give us a real understanding of the operational needs required for universal expansion, and allow us to showcase the strength of the initiative when introduced in a broad range of communities.

As Chicagoans, we pride ourselves in being hardy during the winter months, carrying on no matter the weather.

But the reality of how we clear snow in our city tells a different story: while the City has taken on the responsibility of clearing streets of snow and debris for drivers, it leaves clearing sidewalks of snow and ice up to adjacent property owners.

The job just doesn’t get done. One block might be clear, but the next covered in snow and ice. Mounds of snow get piled up at bus stops. Crosswalks get plowed in by the City – and City departments just point fingers.

That’s why we’re calling on the City of Chicago to make sidewalk snow and ice removal a municipal service.

Failing to clear sidewalks of snow and ice means the City fails its residents who rely on them to get around – often some of our most vulnerable neighbors. It traps people who use wheelchairs, walkers or canes. It impedes parents with strollers. It makes accessing public transit difficult to impossible. And it leaves everyone at risk of slipping and falling.

It’s a problem of priorities and policy, not snowfall levels or funding.

By embracing responsibility for clearing the sidewalks, the City can coordinate its existing plans for bike lanes and streets, ensuring that all residents can get around safely – regardless of their mobility needs or choices.

To accomplish this, we’re asking alderpeople to:

  • Support a citywide municipal sidewalk snow and ice removal program

  • Push for a pilot program ordinance to be introduced into city council

  • Press the Chicago Department of Transportation on the current policy’s failures

It’s common practice elsewhere in the United States and Canada to make sidewalk snow clearance a municipal responsibility. Fortunately, that means Chicago has examples to learn from, like Rochester, NY, and Syracuse. Toronto and Montreal – Canada’s two largest cities – both clear snow from sidewalks as a municipal service. Locally, both Forest Park and Wilmette clear the sidewalks.

It is time for the City of Chicago to stop shirking responsibility and begin clearing public sidewalks.

Whether you walk, roll, bike, take transit, or drive – clear sidewalks keep you moving safely.

Act now and email your alderperson asking them to support making sidewalk snow and ice removal a municipal service – and to support a pilot program for this winter.

We’re proud to have the support of:

City Council:

  • 1st Ward - Ald. Daniel La Spata

  • 4th Ward - Ald. Lamont Robinson

  • 5th Ward - Ald. Desmon Yancy

  • 6th Ward - Ald. William Hall

  • 12th Ward - Ald. Julia Ramirez

  • 14th Ward - Ald. Jeylu Gutierrez

  • 20th Ward - Ald. Jeanette Taylor

  • 21st Ward - Ald. Ronnie Mosley

  • 22nd Ward - Ald. Michael Rodriguez

  • 23rd Ward - Ald. Silvana Tabares

  • 24th Ward - Ald. Monique Scott

  • 25th Ward - Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez

  • 26th Ward - Ald. Jessie Fuentes

  • 30th Ward - Ald. Ruth Cruz

  • 31st Ward - Ald. Felix Cardona Jr.

  • 33rd Ward - Ald. Rossana Rodriguez

  • 35th Ward – Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa

  • 36th Ward - Ald. Gilbert Villegas (ordinance sponsor)

  • 40th Ward - Ald. Andre Vasquez

  • 43rd Ward - Ald. Timmy Knudsen

  • 44th Ward - Ald. Bennett Lawson

  • 46th Ward - Ald. Angela Clay

  • 47th Ward - Ald. Matt Martin

  • 48th Ward - Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth

  • 49th Ward - Ald. Maria Hadden

  • 50th Ward - Ald. Debra Silverstein

Organizations:

  • Access Living

  • AARP - Illinois

  • Active Transportation Alliance

  • AIDS Foundation Chicago

  • Center for Neighborhood Technology

  • Chicago, Bike Grid Now!

  • Chicago Family Biking

  • Chicago Jobs with Justice

  • Commuters Take Action

  • Elevated Chicago

  • Equiticity

  • Freedom to Move Coalition

  • Impact for Equity

  • Independent Drivers Guild of Illinois

  • Indivisible Lincoln Square

  • Jewish Council of Urban Affairs

  • Lurie Children’s Hospital

  • Metropolitan Planning Council

  • Northwest Center

  • Palenque LSNA

  • Shared Use Mobility Center

  • Sierra Club Chicago

  • The Southwest Collective

  • Transportation Equity Network

  • Urban Environmentalists Illinois

  • Westside Justice Center

To join our growing list of supporters and partners, please fill out this form.