Winter sidewalk maintenance review 2019/2020

two winter shovels - one blue, one orange

Walking is one of the most common – and environmentally friendly – forms of travel amongst Kitchener residents. Whether you’re commuting to your daily activities, walking the family dog or exploring the city’s limits; safe, accessible and clear winter sidewalk conditions are an important factor to ensuring all members of our community can navigate around the city.

Recognizing the importance of safe, accessible and clear winter sidewalk conditions, the City of Kitchener is continuing the winter sidewalk maintenance review. The review began during the winter 2018/2019 season, implementing several pilot projects to determine age-friendly options, creative programs and services for winter sidewalk maintenance.

Through this review, we have heard concerns from some residents that the current bylaw standard for clearing sidewalks (outlined in section 687 of Kitchener’s bylaw) is unachievable and an un-realistic expectation.

Council has directed staff to further explore these concerns - unpacking the challenges and understanding the experiences of residents - to investigate whether an alternative standard is a viable solution.

Please provide your input through the following survey by Sept 30, 2019

Walking is one of the most common – and environmentally friendly – forms of travel amongst Kitchener residents. Whether you’re commuting to your daily activities, walking the family dog or exploring the city’s limits; safe, accessible and clear winter sidewalk conditions are an important factor to ensuring all members of our community can navigate around the city.

Recognizing the importance of safe, accessible and clear winter sidewalk conditions, the City of Kitchener is continuing the winter sidewalk maintenance review. The review began during the winter 2018/2019 season, implementing several pilot projects to determine age-friendly options, creative programs and services for winter sidewalk maintenance.

Through this review, we have heard concerns from some residents that the current bylaw standard for clearing sidewalks (outlined in section 687 of Kitchener’s bylaw) is unachievable and an un-realistic expectation.

Council has directed staff to further explore these concerns - unpacking the challenges and understanding the experiences of residents - to investigate whether an alternative standard is a viable solution.

Please provide your input through the following survey by Sept 30, 2019

Snow and Ice Bylaw Review Survey


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  2. Page 2

Question 1:

Kitchener residents have told us how important safe, accessible and people-friendly transportation networks are to the livability of our city.

Options are limited to

Question 2:

In Kitchener, sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner to maintain. This responsibility is detailed under bylaw chapter 687 snow and ice, which states, “Property owners are required to clear snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their property within 24 hours after a snowfall,” which is aligned with the provincial standard.

Our current snow and ice clearing standard is commonly interpreted as "bare pavement". Do you agree with this standard?

Question 3:

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