Two-tier society
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Each time I see cycleways & paths still treacherous hours after the roads have been cleared, I recall this 99% Invisible episode.
"In Sweden, the council reversed its approach and plowed side-roads & paths first. It had a huge impact, reducing number of people admitted to emergency centres, particularly women. It had an economic impact from lower healthcare costs. Driving through a few inches was less dangerous than walking through snow, particularly if pushing a pram."
Invisible Women - 99% Invisible
Snow plowing patterns seem an unlikely subject of a gender study conducted in a small town in Sweden. After all, the town’s approach appeared logical and neutral enough on the surface: plow major roads first, particularly those leading into and out of town, followed by smaller local streets. It is the same sequence played out
99% Invisible (99percentinvisible.org)
@CiaraNi I live in a village in Vermont where we have a street plowing system and a sidewalk plowing system. Usually the sidewalks get plowed before the roads are fully (down to asphalt) plowed because kids need to get to school and cars can make it work with a little bit of snow on the ground. We don't have bike lanes per se, but we do have an active walk/Bike/Roll coalition which is actively raising these issues for which I am grateful.
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Each time I see cycleways & paths still treacherous hours after the roads have been cleared, I recall this 99% Invisible episode.
"In Sweden, the council reversed its approach and plowed side-roads & paths first. It had a huge impact, reducing number of people admitted to emergency centres, particularly women. It had an economic impact from lower healthcare costs. Driving through a few inches was less dangerous than walking through snow, particularly if pushing a pram."
Invisible Women - 99% Invisible
Snow plowing patterns seem an unlikely subject of a gender study conducted in a small town in Sweden. After all, the town’s approach appeared logical and neutral enough on the surface: plow major roads first, particularly those leading into and out of town, followed by smaller local streets. It is the same sequence played out
99% Invisible (99percentinvisible.org)
Thank you so much for sharing this!!
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@CiaraNi @Enema_Cowboy The real punchline is that it is, despite discontinuity, in fact an improvement vs. many non-pathed roads in the area. The mayor for many years was a cyclist and did push for bike paths and infrastructure such that it’s … better than it would have been otherwise … certainly better than you’d expect given other policy decisions by the same administrations, but still leaves a lot to be desired.
@cwicseolfor @Enema_Cowboy Good that there was a mayor who rides a bike and that some efforts were made to improve the bike infrastructre.
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@peterbrown Yes, that's a common problem here too. First day or two: roads cleared. Then they get around to the bike paths. Last, if ever, the footpaths. Which are even more difficult to negotiate after they've cleared the roads and bike paths, with the shovelled-away snow blocking kerb cuts and spraying onto the footpaths themselves.
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@CiaraNi another consequence of poorly-cleared sidewalks is that pedestrians sometimes walk in the street, which is even more dangerous. Here in #RochesterNY it seems to have become a habit that spills over into non-snowy seasons as well.
@jtwcornell91 I and many others walked at the side of the road for stretches yesterday - the paths and bike paths were far too treacherous. Inevitable, as long as you can't take a safe step on the path for ice or wet-soap slush.
We walk on some roads all year round, quite legitimately. We have som mid-city 'shared streets' where cars are allowed, but they are 'guests' and bikes and pedestrians have the right of way. A fine system!
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Åh! From MY old Hood!
@aj42 Ah! It's a great area. Absolutely buzzing these last few years since they developed new sections and particularly Godsbanen.
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@aj42 and yes, we live in car-centric society... We are so doomed
🫣@aj42 Jeg er hvert år overrasket på ny over, at netop fortovene og cykelstierne ikke bliver sneryddet hurtigere og bedre i netop Aarhus. Kommunen har gjort meget for at sikre, at biler ikke dominerer og at byen er nemt tilgængelig på cykel eller til fods. Undtagen når det sner.
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@CiaraNi I live in a village in Vermont where we have a street plowing system and a sidewalk plowing system. Usually the sidewalks get plowed before the roads are fully (down to asphalt) plowed because kids need to get to school and cars can make it work with a little bit of snow on the ground. We don't have bike lanes per se, but we do have an active walk/Bike/Roll coalition which is actively raising these issues for which I am grateful.
@jessamyn That's a fine policy and fine strategy.
'cars can make it work with a little bit of snow on the ground' - this is it. The chance of personal injury in a small amount of snow is less for someone sitting inside a car driven carefully than for a person with no metal shield around them trying to balance on slippy patches or clamber through drifts, perhaps with a small child, or a mobility aid, or pushing a pram.
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Thank you so much for sharing this!!
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De har, som så mange kommuner, sikkert skåret på dét budget, fordi det jo aldrig sneer i Danmark mere...
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De har, som så mange kommuner, sikkert skåret på dét budget, fordi det jo aldrig sneer i Danmark mere...
@aj42 Jeg lyder desværre plausibelt, at det skyldes en budget-strategi. Sneen kommer som en brand new surprise for dem, hvert år.
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R relay@relay.mycrowd.ca shared this topic
