It’s the neighborly way

Karen Burgard’s letter (March 2) is right to the point.

For years I’ve tried to shovel more than my own walkway. Two years ago, I and three neighbors purchased a good snowblower. Each of us tries to clear more than our own corner after each snowstorm.

If every able-bodied neighbor would take responsibility for the walks of our elderly or disabled neighbors, Spokane sidewalks would be much more passable every winter.

I walk to work occasionally or from work to appointments downtown. Thanks to the city departments, who this year cleared sidewalks around reservoirs and over freeway bridges. On the other hand, too many businesses plow their parking lots but do not clear their sidewalks. Most aggravating are parking lot snowplow jobs that heap a 3-foot berm on the sidewalk. Private plow operators must be instructed by the businesses hiring them to be considerate of sidewalks and neighboring properties.

As a business owner on an arterial, I understand that city plows often cover our cleared sidewalks. It’s our responsibility to quickly clear them again. I encourage all business owners and city residents to do the same. We can make our city much more walkable, even in the winter.

Russ Nobbs

Spokane