Peds and cyclists also pay for the roads cuz most are taxpayers...

"If each one had their own shovel those sidewalks could be cleared in very little time . . ." DO drivers clear the roads?

Vehicles and their streets are very large big government tax dollar budget items. Some of these are still begging BIG GOVERNMENT to build them a $200 million tax dollar obsolete roadway design aka SLT. Talk about deadbeats....

There's absolutely no practical way that the city can take on full responsibility for clearing the sidewalks-- at least not without a significant tax increase that few if any want to see. But the city needs to take on a larger role in facilitating getting walks cleared in a timely way.

Instead of merely fining people in a very inconsistent way, with very uneven enforcement, they should create a clearinghouse of contractors and volunteers that's available to those who need it. For those who are physically incapable, and can't afford to pay out of pocket, there should be a list no- or low-cost options for getting their walks cleared. For those who can afford it, there should be a list of contractors available. In residential areas, perhaps the neighborhood organizations should take on the task of finding and organizing volunteers to shovel the walks of those who are incapable. And for those who are capable, but choose not to do it, it'd be a potential fundraiser for those organizations, or a way to earn money for neighborhood kids.

Fines should then only be levied when people fail (or refuse) to take advantage of the options available to them.

Be nice if the people sentenced to Community Service for things like DUI, traffic tickets, and any other misdemeanor or even felony matters were sent out with shovels to do this work.

What is preventing our community from accessing this, essentially, FREE LABOR POOL???

The answer is the idiots at Court Services who will find every excuse in the book (the most often used one being "We don't have the insurance" which really translates into "We're too lazy to leave our offices and actually be a part of the community"...) to NOT be progressive in their thinking. "We've always done it this way....". Give a ring to Ron Stegall, Chief Executive Probation Officer (how ya like that FANCY title?!!) at (785) 832-5220 or email him at rstegall@douglas-county.com . He'll be glad to explain to you why that office CANNOT serve the community. His antiquated decision making is backed by Linda Koester-Vogelsang, Court Administrator: (785) 832-5256; lkv@douglas-county.com (They have a SET list of places where Community Service hours can be worked off and they're all in a/c and heated sit down places; Nice and comfy for that oh so misunderstood drunk driver or whatever.....).

Community corrections and community service: Jokes in Douglas County, Kansas

It seems this past year or so there are more cyclists and walkers around. Hey and why not.

Gasoline pollutes no matter how expensive so the more we cut back the better .

No question about it motorized vehicles are a big load on the big government tax dollar between pollution, road wear and the war for oil. We actually could be paying $22 -$35 per gallon. Wait till we start paying $8-$9 a gallon at the pump plus the cost of war and road wear.

Other forms of transportation are beginning to look real good. IF citizens would do most all of their recreation travel on feet,bikes and public transportation the USA could put a dent in air pollution. AND the roads would not need resurfaced frequently.

Osteoporosis can be prevented by keeping that body moving. Waiting until the doctor says you need to get moving is too late.

As for grocery shopping or any shopping: These cruise over most any terrain with ease even with a load on... http://www.burley.com/home/bur/page_36

On snow see:

http://www2.ljworld.com/weblogs/loyal-opposition/2011/feb/6/the-great-snow-shoveling-/

OMG, I can't believe they actually compared a warm cozy late summer day to the freezing cold snow covered days in January.

This comparison would not pass muster in my 1st grade class in that little one room country school back in 1951.

But I am sure the city can use the $20 and the county can use the $53 court fee.

This reminds me of the time when I was a young lad out on the farm, a dog was on top of our family dog really going to town on her, my father described the one on top as the government taking care of a taxpayer, getting all it could from her and telling her it was for her own good and that the community would benefit too.

TheFox

Merrill babbled:

"Other forms of transportation are beginning to look real good. IF citizens would do most all of their recreation travel on feet,bikes and public transportation the USA could put a dent in air pollution. AND the roads would not need resurfaced frequently."

Somewhat ironic from a guy who uses gasoline powered mowers for a living. Mowers are highly polluting both through exhaust and spilled gas. Further, they need trucks to get them to and from different locations.

Hypocrite. What is your involvement in Sven's campaign?

Thank you to my realtor several homes ago who taught me to always buy on the side of the street WITHOUT the sidewalk.

1) You don't have to shovel the sidewalk of snow and deal with the above crap. 2) You don't have people letting their dogs crap in your yard. 3) People litter and dump out various liquids and such which can kill your grass. 4) Statistics have show that resale is generally lower for a house with a sidewalk in front.

Sidewalks are for pansies, walk in the street like a man. Or a hooker. Hookers smell good, like vanilla and cocoa bean with a touch of that smell in the bottom of my 14mo old's diaper pail after it's sat in the garage for too long because I haven't had a chance to bleach it. I'll bet THAT stuff would melt the snow.

But I digress, let me sum this up, where was I.. Oh yeah, sidewalk bad, hookers good. Carry on civilians.