Urban Design: Why are sidewalks Flat in places where there can be snow, freezing rain, or ice?

[Boojatta]

If there were ridges (and, ideally, drain holes), then wouldn't it be less likely that flat surfaces would become coated with ice and create slipping hazards?

Is it too much trouble for people to lift their feet when they walk rather than shuffle along?

[Warpy]

1. Shuffling along is the best way to navigate uneven ice

and as somebody who coped with uneven but picturesque brick sidewalks on Beacon Hill, I can say with complete assurance that level sidewalks are a lot easier to walk on when snow and slush get pounded into ice.

It would be nice if cities had someplace to put all the snow from the sidewalks, but Boston is peculiar in that it just has plows to shove it out of the middle of the street and onto parked cars and sometimes onto the sidewalks. It is illegal to dig out your car and throw the snow back into the street, so guess where it all goes... Other cities plow it, pick it up and dump it somewhere else. Not Boston.

Now y'all know why I don't live there any more.

[texastoast]

2. I used those little spiky things

that strapped onto my shoes. I think they probably have less environmental impact. Ridges will slick up just as much.

[L. Coyote]

3. So people don't slip and fall on ice. You can walk on flat ice.

[Occulus]

8. You can have your foot whip out from under the rest of your body, too

That happened one night as I was approaching the stairs into my apartment. I was very, very lucky that I landed flat on my back, and didn't break my neck or a vertebra in the process. Even so, I was very sore in my left shoulder for a couple days.

You can walk on flat ice, but you better have some help on the soles of your shoes, or you're asking for a broken bone or worse.

[MADem]

4. Put SOCKS over your boots. No joke--I see little old ladies do this, and it WORKS.

If you think I am making this up, I am not. The technology has been shifted to VEHICLES. See here:

http://www.roofbox.co.uk/autosock/




AutoSock - textile wheel covers with an elasticated edge; you just slip them over the driving wheels when you find yourself getting stuck. ("Yes - it really is this easy" and "Yes, of course they work!") Be prepared for the winter by carrying a set of AutoSock in your car, happy in the knowledge that

fitting them is easy. If you can pull a sock over your foot you can push a fabric cover over a wheel.
fitting them requires no practice.
they weigh less than 1kg and take up minimal space. It's sensible to keep them with the spare wheel, always ready for use.
they are relatively universal, i.e. one size fits over 60% of cars.
they're reusable again and again - providing value for money for years to come.
they work!
prices start at only £59.95!
Probably the most difficult part of the operation is remembering that they're there!


AutoSock provides an ideal "Get me Home" or "Get me to that meeting" solution - but only if you keep a set in the car! Although developed in Norway, they're particularly appropriate for the UK, where we experience sudden and sporadic snow fall, usually short lasting, but so often the cause of massive disruption and inconvenience while it lasts.

Most of us take our chances because, all things considered, it's hard to justify the use of winter tyres, and carrying snow chains is "over the top". The good news is that tests show AutoSock to be more effective than winter tyres, with the further benefit that you only fit them when you need them.

[ben_meyers]

5. Why are cities put where snow and ice

can accumulate on the sidewalks?

(Okay, half kidding.)

[Generic Brad]

6. You ever tried walking on a slanted surface after an ice storm?

It can't be done.

[soothsayer]

7. I can't believe those morons are building flyovers (really tall highway exit ramps)

in areas where we have ice and snow. Stupid, stupid, stupid! The things are as steep as roller coasters.

[MiniMe]

9. It doesn't matter if it is flat or not, there will still be ice on the surface

[Boojatta]

10. Wouldn't sunlight melt or sublimate ice on the tops of ridges?

[MiniMe]

11. It depends on how thick the ice is. and how high the ridges are

Higher ridges would make it more difficult to shovel it down to a clean surface. If the surface isn't clean (for snow expecially), you would get more ice. You also have to take into account who is walking on the surface. Toddlers, elderly people, and people on crutches or some other problem would probably find it to be difficult to get around on. I know you are thinking of during the winter, but what about when it is nice out?

[SoCalDem]

12. get yourself a pair of these babies & you're good to go !