PICKERING: Snowfall is a problem for everyone, City departments included

Snow falls, cheered, jeered by many others.

Winter fans love snowstorms,..skiing, skating, hockey and tobogganing. Great, if you’re a winter-loving person.

For non-winter loving people, snowstorms mean trouble, discomfort and risk. Sidewalks and driveways shovelling, greater risk walking, the discomfort of the cold.

City snowplowing
The City must maintaining residents’ access and travel on city streets. There are practical issues that affect their efficiency in doing the work of snow clearing. The job is huge. So it takes a lot of time and effort to clean neighbourhood after neighbourhood. The city has a sequence to how this work is done. Smaller, less travelled streets likely get deferred to lesser priority in the snow cleaning order.

City maintenance causes problem too
City cleaning also causes problems. Windrows, the accumulation of snow at the end of the driveway caused by the snowplow. Unavoidable, but an insurmountable problem when temperatures plunge and the windrows freeze. Some cities now have unique plows that leave no windrows but these pieces of equipment are extra purchases for any city wanting them.

Strategies for snow cleaning
Snow shovelling is a heavy and onerous job. It can also be risky for some people with health issues, age difficulties

• Tackle the snow-cleaning job early
• Snow shovel in smaller amounts, smaller but more often
• Get help if you can
• City of Pickering has Seniors snow shovelling available
• Use appropriate snow shovels, size appropriate
• Don’t overdo it. Shovel smaller amounts often
• Take it in stages, smaller segments, not all at once.

Understand snow-cleaning challenges the City
The City maintenance crews have a pattern to their snow cleaning procedures. Likely large, principal thoroughfares first and then neighbourhoods and even there, there likely is an order. With luck, your street may get cleaned soon but more likely you will need patience as you wait your neighbourhood’s turn. The City will get to you, as soon as they can.

City snow-cleaning INFO site
The city offers information about snow cleaning operations. See their website at  -> PICKERINGPLOWS

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Call the City if you have questions about your neighbourhood snow removal as done by the Lynn Heights community:

“After driving through the neighbourhood, it appears our streets have not been ploughed yet. We also checked the City of Pickering plough tracking website, which shows that our area is the only one still awaiting service. An inquiry has been submitted to the City, and we’re hopeful this will be addressed as soon as possible.”