PennDOT projects ignore bikes and pedestrians (Highland Park: how much, home, cost)

[FreightTrainRunning]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

If you are running Windows, you can fill out a complaint. Someone filled out a complaint regarding a sign in the middle of the Highland Park Bridge sidewalk and BOOM PennDot relocated it. Of course they still plow all the snow onto the sidewalk, which includes bumper parts, glass, shock absorbers, used drug needles and whatever else on the sides of our roadways, but I digress.

I've tried the PennDot complaint site and haven't gotten much response.

[gg]

Originally Posted by ditchdigger

Where would you put it?

There is room on the side of the road. What they do is plow it normally and if some flies up over that is one thing, but what makes it a total mess is the idiot plow drivers with nothing to do because the snow is over and the roads are clear, run SUPER close to the side and throw the mess up and over onto the sidewalk. I realize no one will know about this unless they are a walker/cyclist, but that is what happens. Now there is a TON of debris on the sidewalk. I think the PennDot drivers want to get some overtime pay, so they do that extra plowing thing super close to the barrier, which really benefits no one except the drivers making time and a half.

[North Beach Person]

If the drivers are clearing the shoulders then that's SOP for snow clearing. You also have to plan ahead a bit, if the shoulders have snow piled on them where does the snow from the next storm go? That's why you'll see, in nearly every state that gets snow, the plows coming back after the storm and clearing the shoulders-especially on roads designated Snow Emergency Routes.

[ditchdigger]

There is room on the side of the road.

On the Highland Park Bridge??

[gg]

Originally Posted by ditchdigger

On the Highland Park Bridge??

Yes. They cleared the road. All was fine until they cleared the very edge which does nothing except mess up the sidewalk for weeks. I realize people don't understand. Everyone is driving across the bridge at 70 and no one cares. I get it. I care, but realize this is PA and… well someone on a bike or walking is seen as an inconvenience.

[erieguy]

Roads need plowed/cleared. People, buses, emergency vehicles, etc... need to get through as safely as possible. If they werent clearing the road and an accident/something bad happened because of it, theyd be accused of not doing their job. Drive a vehicle until the snow melts. Not a big deal.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Drive a vehicle until the snow melts. Not a big deal.

That's absolutely wrong. The sidewalks are as much a part of the right of way as the road.

[erieguy]

Snow plows can't control where the snow goes when they plow and roads are certainly more important than a walk being cleared to ride a bicycle.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Snow plows can't control where the snow goes when they plow and roads are certainly more important than a walk being cleared to ride a bicycle.

It really depends on which sidewalks we're talking about. For example I've noticed the "three sisters" bridges downtown always have cleared sidewalks. There are golf cart sized vehicles that plow and spread salt along the path.

[erieguy]

That's awesome and if there's more machines available that can keep the walks clean, the more the merrier.