Residents walking in streets to avoid snow-filled sidewalks - WNEM

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SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) – As snow and slush pile up on sidewalks, some people are walking in the streets to avoid trudging through the snow, which poses some safety concerns.

“There’s not enough sidewalks cleaned in my neighborhood to get around on foot,” said Saginaw resident Jeremy Rice.

Some people in Saginaw are having a tough time getting around because of the snow, many resorting to walking in the street to get from point A to point B.

“It’s a little annoying. And I understand that there’s ice underneath the snow, and so it’s hard for some people, but on the other end, some people get it done and makes it a little easier for others,” Rice said.

“It’s not as safe, but you can see. But it is safer than the actual sidewalk, because if you fall -- I’m 57, I’m wrapped, it’s a wrap. I’m gonna break my hip and everything,” said Saginaw resident Vincent Davis.

Many homeowners in the city of Saginaw leave snow on the sidewalks after storms or showers.

“I walk to work every day. I work and live in the neighborhood, and it would make my job a lot easier if I didn’t have to walk in the road,” Rice said.

While there is no state law mandating homeowners to shovel sidewalks, each local government has ordinances regarding snow removal.

However, pedestrians in Saginaw say the city needs to enforce those ordinances more.

“It would help, probably. Give people a little bit more incentive to clean up their properties,” Rice said.

“If the city can hold some of the citizens liable or the city should hire some of those guys in the county jail to come on out here and get to work,” Davis said.

The city of Saginaw does not have a specific ordinance on record that says homeowners are responsible for clearing sidewalks, but it does have an ordinance saying property owners may not allow any sidewalk adjoining their property to fall into disrepair or become unsafe.

Under the code pertaining to snow removal, snow and ice removed from private property cannot be dumped into streets or any other public properties.

Homeowners should contact their local government to see what the ordinance is in their area because it is different for every municipality.

For example, in Saginaw Township, the township is responsible for clearing sidewalks.