Maybe DC gov should first fine itself, for failing to leaf blow or snowplow?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a homeowner in DC for 8 years and diligently shovel the sidewalk in front of my house (and usually one or more neighbors). Today is the first I learned that property owners are responsible for removing snow from the alleys they abut. I’m rather taken aback by this.

Was this general knowledge that I somehow missed? Are people doing this?

The alleys are a no-mans land wrt snow clearing. The District does not plow alleys. Homeowners are not responsible for clearing alleys. Responsibilty reverts to nature.

I did see a white pickup go through our alley to apply salt, which surprised me. I didn't see either door, but its appearance was consistent with the DDOT fleet.

DC Code § 9–601; https://snow.dc.gov/page/frequently-asked-questions-4

Our alley in Upper NW was salted before the storm, which was a first in decades of living here. Sadly, it did nothing, and the alley quickly turned into a skating rink and our garbage/recycling wasn't collected until yesterday when things finally had melted enough. (it doesn't help that our alley is downhill, making it even more tricky for garbage trucks).

+1

I’ll start shoveling my alley when recycling actually gets picked up on a consistent basis. Before today it had been three weeks.

Damn straight. Been tempted to just put it all in the regular trash. WTH DC?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a homeowner in DC for 8 years and diligently shovel the sidewalk in front of my house (and usually one or more neighbors). Today is the first I learned that property owners are responsible for removing snow from the alleys they abut. I’m rather taken aback by this.

Was this general knowledge that I somehow missed? Are people doing this?

The alleys are a no-mans land wrt snow clearing. The District does not plow alleys. Homeowners are not responsible for clearing alleys. Responsibilty reverts to nature.

I did see a white pickup go through our alley to apply salt, which surprised me. I didn't see either door, but its appearance was consistent with the DDOT fleet.

DC Code § 9–601; https://snow.dc.gov/page/frequently-asked-questions-4

Our alley in Upper NW was salted before the storm, which was a first in decades of living here. Sadly, it did nothing, and the alley quickly turned into a skating rink and our garbage/recycling wasn't collected until yesterday when things finally had melted enough. (it doesn't help that our alley is downhill, making it even more tricky for garbage trucks).

+1

I’ll start shoveling my alley when recycling actually gets picked up on a consistent basis. Before today it had been three weeks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a homeowner in DC for 8 years and diligently shovel the sidewalk in front of my house (and usually one or more neighbors). Today is the first I learned that property owners are responsible for removing snow from the alleys they abut. I’m rather taken aback by this.

Was this general knowledge that I somehow missed? Are people doing this?

The alleys are a no-mans land wrt snow clearing. The District does not plow alleys. Homeowners are not responsible for clearing alleys. Responsibilty reverts to nature.

I did see a white pickup go through our alley to apply salt, which surprised me. I didn't see either door, but its appearance was consistent with the DDOT fleet.

DC Code § 9–601; https://snow.dc.gov/page/frequently-asked-questions-4

Our alley in Upper NW was salted before the storm, which was a first in decades of living here. Sadly, it did nothing, and the alley quickly turned into a skating rink and our garbage/recycling wasn't collected until yesterday when things finally had melted enough. (it doesn't help that our alley is downhill, making it even more tricky for garbage trucks).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just make sure to move our cars to the front and let the alley melt. It usually only gets fully covered with snow / ice once or twice a year.

No one is required to clear the alley because its use is optional. Ours gets enough sun that it usually melts quickly enough.

I think municipalities looked the other way for a long time but are starting to realize that there is money to be made off violations.

If you get a fine in D.C. for not shoveling your alley, make the city show you the specific statute that you've allegedly violated before you pay it. People who don't shovel their sidewalks are the worst and should be fined aggressively. But it's absurd to suggest that suddenly homeowners are also responsible for clearing alleys, which are basically just small streets and which no pedestrians need to rely on exclusively.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a homeowner in DC for 8 years and diligently shovel the sidewalk in front of my house (and usually one or more neighbors). Today is the first I learned that property owners are responsible for removing snow from the alleys they abut. I’m rather taken aback by this.

Was this general knowledge that I somehow missed? Are people doing this?

Yeah, I’ll get right on the clearing of my alley . . .

Homeowners are NOT responsible for snow removal from alleys in DC. Not sure where you learned" otherwise.

Anonymous wrote:We just make sure to move our cars to the front and let the alley melt. It usually only gets fully covered with snow / ice once or twice a year.

No one is required to clear the alley because its use is optional. Ours gets enough sun that it usually melts quickly enough.

I think municipalities looked the other way for a long time but are starting to realize that there is money to be made off violations.

We just make sure to move our cars to the front and let the alley melt. It usually only gets fully covered with snow / ice once or twice a year.

No one is required to clear the alley because its use is optional. Ours gets enough sun that it usually melts quickly enough.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been a homeowner in DC for 8 years and diligently shovel the sidewalk in front of my house (and usually one or more neighbors). Today is the first I learned that property owners are responsible for removing snow from the alleys they abut. I’m rather taken aback by this.

Was this general knowledge that I somehow missed? Are people doing this?

The alleys are a no-mans land wrt snow clearing. The District does not plow alleys. Homeowners are not responsible for clearing alleys. Responsibilty reverts to nature.

I did see a white pickup go through our alley to apply salt, which surprised me. I didn't see either door, but its appearance was consistent with the DDOT fleet.

DC Code § 9–601; https://snow.dc.gov/page/frequently-asked-questions-4

We shoveled our alley a few days after the 2010 storm because we wanted to be able to get our car out of the garage, and it was a huge pain. Now live in a house with no alley, but I don't think I'd do that again; next time, I'd just not drive after a big snowstorm until it was all melted or the city had plowed.

I do not see any evidence of this in the DC Code. Do you have an official link to share?

The provision about clearing sidewaks includes clearing alleys where they cross sidewalks, but that does not mean the whole alley. Nobody ever clears alleys.

Weird. I wonder if this is also true in Alexandria. But our alley is definitely city property, as there's a storm drain that runs under it.

None of my neighbors work to clear the alley behind their homes. We're all also diligent about the sidewalk.

I do it but didn’t know it was required. Does that go for leaves too? One person on our alley just lets them build up. I think the rats nest there.

I’ve been a homeowner in DC for 8 years and diligently shovel the sidewalk in front of my house (and usually one or more neighbors). Today is the first I learned that property owners are responsible for removing snow from the alleys they abut. I’m rather taken aback by this.

Was this general knowledge that I somehow missed? Are people doing this?