Buffalo Rising Online

Heated sidewalks is a Hummer of a idea. While we are at it lets do the roads also. Heck we should be able to get this global warming going fast enough that we will not have to worry about snow anyway. We create laws about building insulation to conserve energy yet we can dump it outside unregulated. Go figure.

FYI, The Central branch of the B&EC Library in Lafayette Square downtown also has heated sidewalks. You can tell by how nice the snow is melted and by the signs that tell workers not to dig...

I see those all the time and the one thing I can say is that it seems like they are always busting up the concrete for some sort of leak or whatever......as if Buffalo doesnt have enough maintenance and infrastructure problems.

im no engineer, but I wonder if a geothermal loop system would be a (almost) carbon neutral way to go about it. after all, the sidewalk only needs to be 33 degrees.

You don't even need to go very deep to find heat sources, it's not too far down where you find good ole' mother earth maintains a 55 degree temperature year 'round. For the past ten years or so homes and businesses have used ground-source heat pumps (GSHP's) to maintain interior comfort and melt the ice and snow off their sidewalks and driveways. Modern materials used would not require the maintenance older pipes require- that's why you see torn up sidewalks, Buffalo's water infrastructure system is over 100 years old.

As for a centralized system to deliver this, there was a crazy engineer by the name of Birdsall Holly who came up with the idea back in 1877, when it was put into practical use in Lockport. Birdsall also invented such conveniences as the fire hydrant and the first municipal water system.

Gotta love those crazy engineers!

Geothermal would be one part of the solution. It would have to be a corruptive effort. Business / property owners would need to get the snow to the curb so the city could easily scoop it up, and the geothermal could keep it clear instead of throwing tons of salt down. Geothermal couldn’t possibly melt large amounts of snow on its own. So for now just shovel your side walk or pay somebody to do it. The city should enforce the laws they already have on this subject.

As someone who just did several miles of walking around Elmwood, Hertel and Delaware for Christmas shopping I must say that the sidewalks were not convenient at all. I think the city really should get on people and businesses that don't shovel. I had a cart to carry my items and trying to navigate was near impossible. I am glad I didn't have anything too heavy as I was forced to pick up everything and carry it over some stretches. The corner areas are also very problematic. The plows create rather large hills that most places just ignore. Even if they do shovel their sidewalk you need to hike over there mounds. God forbid and elderly person needs to walk anywhere or someone in a wheelchair because it would be impossible.

I especially hate when parking lot owners plow their parking lot snow onto the sidewalks and just leave it on the sidewalks forcing people to walk in the streets and then they get yelled at for not walking on the sidewalks. It's an evil cycle.

sbrof:

As a member of the city's bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee who has been trying valiantly to bring this to the city's attention, I would urge you to write down the address number of the businesses that fail to clear their sidewalks and report them via citistat to the City. The only way to address this situation is to report it. You get a tracking number and the city is forced to take action, which means an inspector is sent out to inspect the sidewalk and a warning letter is sent or a fine against the building owner is assessed.

It's easy to report; it can be done online and anonymously: http://www.city-buffalo.com/Applications/ComplaintForm/default.aspx

on a side note what is with all the people walking in the street when the sidewalks have been cleared? (this was apparent on kensington ave last night) are they trying to get hit?

JSK, I guess the city should also mow my front lawn? I don't agree with that argument at all.

And Stephen, another thing that should be addressed. I roll down my window and yell, "SIDEWALK" any time I pass the middle-of-the-street walkers, much to my wife's chagrin. City cops should start ticketing anyone walking in the middle of the street. You'll find they do it in the middle of the summer, too, so it is not really a snow issue.

Mayor Casey, if you're reading this, three words for you: Quality Of Life. Enforce the small things and everything else will fall into place.

people walking in the street on Kensington ave? that's a shock.....like was mentioned earlier,.it has nothing to do with the weather...it is an "attitude" thing...these are the same people that after finishing their slice of pizza walking down the street just toss the garbage on the ground with absolutely no thought or concern for what they are doing.....and who eats meals while walking down the street?

yes, plows still do Kenmore sidewalks and the StormToopers still enforce the village speed limit...one of the perks of living in Norman Rockwellesque Nazi heaven... or hell depending on your outlook.

It was funny, while driving through Buffalo people get all upset at people walking in the street and yell stuff but when with the same people in Kenmore or North Tonawanda this past couple days they don't get upset at all. It is amazing how people get annoying at street walkers based on the color of their skin.

And yes I trudge through just about anything on the sidewalk but at 26 I can. There are many places where if you are anything but surefooted you would probably fall. I saw someone bite it on my street a couple houses over on a "shoveled" but not cleared to pavement sidewalk. That person will probably walk in the street from now on because of that.