DC - Bushes From Private Home Blocking Sidewalk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds deranged. Just move a little and be happy for the small bit of green in this concrete city. Try harder and you won’t be so jealous of other people’s nice gardens.

People's gardens shouldn't block the sidewalk, no matter how nice the gardens may be.

They’re not blocking the sidewalk, they’re slightly encroaching on the sidewalk. Op is crazy.

Are they your bushes? You should trim them back so they don't block the sidewalk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep reporting it in the DC311 app every few days. You can upload photos and the the exact address. File it as a “Sidewalk Repair” and state something along the lines of “Public space Sidewalk blocked by overgrown bushes. Please trim. Disabled individuals and strollers cannot safely pass due to overgrowth.”

They usually will respond if you mention that disabled individuals cannot safely maneuver the sidewalk. Do not mention anything about the bushes on private property. If they come out to inspect, they will very likely just cut back and then fine the homeowner.

I find that city services tend to respond more promptly to the DC311 app because there’s a paper trail with photo evidence.

I like this!
Or,
Put on a hoodie and a mask and trim the bushes yourself after dark one day

Vigilante landscaping!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds deranged. Just move a little and be happy for the small bit of green in this concrete city. Try harder and you won’t be so jealous of other people’s nice gardens.

People's gardens shouldn't block the sidewalk, no matter how nice the gardens may be.

They’re not blocking the sidewalk, they’re slightly encroaching on the sidewalk. Op is crazy.

Blocking half the sidewalk.

A person who uses a wheelchair needs the whole sidewalk. What do you have against people who use wheelchairs?

[Anonymous]

It's not DDOT that would provide the service, so Sidewalk Repair service requests would just get closed or be stuck getting re-routed. The service request that will get the closest to the right team is Sanitation Enforcement, or you can call Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP) directly at 202-645-7190.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds deranged. Just move a little and be happy for the small bit of green in this concrete city. Try harder and you won’t be so jealous of other people’s nice gardens.

Exactly. Unless the vegetation is a complete impediment to safe passage, let's appreciate the greenery. Frankly, people who donate their time and money to plant the tree boxes and space adjacent the sidewalks (which is not even their lot) should be celebrated. Instead, DPW looks to fine them and DDOT lets Lime and other scooter companies dump 150-lb machines in the tree boxes, sometimes smashing the roots of struggling smaller trees. DC has lost of lot of its shady tree canopy and between the DC government and PEPCO will continue to lose more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds deranged. Just move a little and be happy for the small bit of green in this concrete city. Try harder and you won’t be so jealous of other people’s nice gardens.

Exactly. Unless the vegetation is a complete impediment to safe passage, let's appreciate the greenery. Frankly, people who donate their time and money to plant the tree boxes and space adjacent the sidewalks (which is not even their lot) should be celebrated. Instead, DPW looks to fine them and DDOT lets Lime and other scooter companies dump 150-lb machines in the tree boxes, sometimes smashing the roots of struggling smaller trees. DC has lost of lot of its shady tree canopy and between the DC government and PEPCO will continue to lose more.

Obviously we have to balance that with public safety though. There is a place for every plant, and a plant in the wrong place can be a hazard.

-- Master Gardener

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds deranged. Just move a little and be happy for the small bit of green in this concrete city. Try harder and you won’t be so jealous of other people’s nice gardens.

Exactly. Unless the vegetation is a complete impediment to safe passage, let's appreciate the greenery. Frankly, people who donate their time and money to plant the tree boxes and space adjacent the sidewalks (which is not even their lot) should be celebrated. Instead, DPW looks to fine them and DDOT lets Lime and other scooter companies dump 150-lb machines in the tree boxes, sometimes smashing the roots of struggling smaller trees. DC has lost of lot of its shady tree canopy and between the DC government and PEPCO will continue to lose more.

You don't know what you are talking about.

DC's tree canopy has been growing slowly but steadily for about 10 years now and the Urban Forestry division of DDOT is well funded and usually gets trees planted within 6 months of when they are requested.

Citations for any violations around tree boxes or blocked sidewalks would come from DDOT not DPW.

DDOT is actually very good about planting, removing and caring for trees in the tree box and people really should not be planting their own trees or bushes in tree boxes - it is actually forbidden in DC to do that and bushes aren't allowed at all in tree boxes for good reason.

Nothing Lime or any mobility companies use weigh 150 pounds - though I don't use them rather than complain about them on DCUM when they are in the way I just move them - their scooters weigh about 30 pounds and my 9 year old has no trouble moving them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP sounds deranged. Just move a little and be happy for the small bit of green in this concrete city. Try harder and you won’t be so jealous of other people’s nice gardens.

Exactly. Unless the vegetation is a complete impediment to safe passage, let's appreciate the greenery. Frankly, people who donate their time and money to plant the tree boxes and space adjacent the sidewalks (which is not even their lot) should be celebrated. Instead, DPW looks to fine them and DDOT lets Lime and other scooter companies dump 150-lb machines in the tree boxes, sometimes smashing the roots of struggling smaller trees. DC has lost of lot of its shady tree canopy and between the DC government and PEPCO will continue to lose more.

Absolutely. Let's start replacing street parking with parklets, and celebrating the people who do it!

Or, we can acknowledge that everyone should be able to use the sidewalk without being impeded.