Submitted by S_thescientist t3_10dtarv in boston
S_thescientist OP t1_j4n4qki wrote
Reply to comment by a_swarm_of_nuns in Where the hell do I put the snow?! by S_thescientist
The only issue I am having now is where to put it since I don’t have a yard, driveway, or flower box. Just house | sidewalk | street (with street parking)
Jpd077 t1_j4n99qd wrote
I’d defer to observing what your neighbors do. Based on what you shared, there are likely a few options: 1. reserve part of the sidewalk for snow (I.e. you don’t shovel the whole sidewalk), 2. as others have said, small piles between the front/back of cars, and 3. the dead space on the street (hydrants, no parking zones, etc). I do have sections of my sidewalk where I actuallly shovel and carry the snow to a different spot I can dump it (15-20 feet max)…
Jer_Cough t1_j4ne14y wrote
Just don't cover the hydrants. In fact, be a good doobee and shovel out the hydrant nearest your front door. Fire Departments will sing songs of your deed.
mimicthefrench t1_j4obr7p wrote
And if there's a storm drain make sure that's uncovered too, when the snow melts it will need somewhere to go! Obviously not as much of an issue now because this was not much snow, but when we get a foot or more, it's pretty common for drains to get blocked by mounds of snow. There's one near my house that we learned the hard way to ensure it stays clear, because otherwise every basement on our side of the street floods when the snow melts.
S_thescientist OP t1_j4ngcoe wrote
Okay, so “don’t pile snow in the street” doesn’t include parking areas, just through traffic areas?
Treebeard2277 t1_j4nmaxu wrote
I think it means like, don’t block the road, areas to walk and parking spots.
-CalicoKitty- t1_j4o2oix wrote
Last winter I put some of it on top of the pile the plow had already made. It was technically on the street, but between a street parking spot and driveway entrance. You can pile it up against/next to public trees if you have any, or between the sidewalk and street parking, as long as pedestrians can get by and it doesn't touch any parked cars.
Hribunos t1_j4q44r3 wrote
Correct, but keep in mind "as long as pedestrians can get by" means wide enough for a stroller/wheelchair, not just boots.
On a standard sized sidewalk that means like 60% of it's width should be clear, and you can push snow to the 20% along each edge.
Nothing worse than trying to get a stroller down the sidewalk when one tire is up on top of somebody's snowpiles.
Hribunos t1_j4q3qej wrote
Correct. During bigger storm, piling more snow on top of the banks the plows made is usually a safe bet.
LadyGreyIcedTea t1_j4nun2m wrote
We got like half an inch of snow. It will all be melted by tomorrow. Just push it to the side of the sidewalk.
lifeisakoan t1_j4nbb3h wrote
My sidewalk is blocked by tree pits. I pile the snow up between the cars and cover the sidewalk to the width of the tree pit, although I am generous towards the tree pit.
Some professionals will clear every inch and throw everything into the street. First the sidewalk is nice and clear, but doesn't actually let pedestrians walk any more freely than if the piled it up against the lamp post or along the curb. In heavy storms, this clear every inch and pile it in the street prevents people leaving the building from going out into the street (our street has light traffic and is better for walking than the sidewalk all year round). Personally I think the professionals have no clue how to clear a walkway that it is good for everyone or even the people in the building they are clearing for.
CatCranky t1_j4o956i wrote
It’s against the law to shovel snow into the street in Boston
lifeisakoan t1_j4of5bu wrote
It is also against the law to leave walkways unshoveled, yet the City of Boston mostly doesn't shovel walks in front of their property.
If I saw enforcement of landlords leaving commercial walkways unhoveled or the city actually making an effort to clear sidewalks at crossings on commercial streets after a big storm I might be concerned about moving snow into the first 6 inches of roadway.
jrs1982 t1_j4pk2si wrote
Exactly. Plus by the time your shoveling the roads have been treated so much the shit you throw in the road will melt pretty quickly assuming you don’t pile it up like an ass.
oogaboogaaa2 t1_j4qteax wrote
Put it in your bathtub, run the hot water.
MPG54 t1_j4rl5y2 wrote
Former Mainer and shoveling aficionado here. You probably have a strip of grass near you sidewalk. Put it there. Build snowbanks. The trick is to pat the snow down as you shovel. Make the pile wide and level and you will fit a lot of snow. If you get a foot of fluffy snow you can compress it down to a few inches of packed snow.
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