Pittsburgh Snow Removal (neighborhoods, living, moving to)

[ak_veg_head]

I'm moving to Pittsburgh in January and will be relying on public transit and my feet to get around. How is the snow removal? Are the sidewalks maitained in the winter or are they useless until summer?

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by ak_veg_head

How is the snow removal?

Snow removal on streets is fine.

Originally Posted by ak_veg_head

Are the sidewalks maitained in the winter or are they useless until summer?

Each segment of sidewalk is different since individual property owners are responsible for sidewalks.

It really doesn't matter most of the time. Pittsburgh doesn't get a lot of snow.

[ditchdigger]

Each segment of sidewalk is different since individual property owners are responsible for sidewalks.

To which I'll add, most, if not all municipalities have some sort of ordinance requiring sidewalks to be cleared within 24 hours (or something similar.) Many people never do, and nothing ever seems to happen to them.

Now, contrary to what Hopes says about that not mattering, we get enough extended stretches of sub-freezing temperatures, that if a sidewalk goes untouched for even a couple of minor snow events in a row, it can become very hard-packed and icy.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by ditchdigger

To which I'll add, most, if not all municipalities have some sort of ordinance requiring sidewalks to be cleared within 24 hours (or something similar.) Many people never do, and nothing ever seems to happen to them.

Now, contrary to what Hopes says about that not mattering, we get enough extended stretches of sub-freezing temperatures, that if a sidewalk goes untouched for even a couple of minor snow events in a row, it can become very hard-packed and icy.

Depends on where he will be walking. Sidewalks downtown are clear as are the business districts of most neighborhoods. It's mostly homeowners who don't clear sidewalks.

[ditchdigger]

It's mostly homeowners who don't clear sidewalks.

True, but since the OP didn't say anything about living downtown, and stated that they'd be relying on public transit, I made the admittedly risky leap of reasoning to conclude that they (or someone else interested in the topic, but just lurking), might be living somewhere where the sidewalks are maintained by mostly homeowners.

[BrianTH]

As others noted, sidewalks in residential neighborhoods can be a mixed bag. In some neighborhoods, though, I'd say the vast majority of sidewalks do get cleared in a timely fashion (and neighbors are helping each other out as necessary).