To the editor,
Last week, Nanaimo saw its usual and predictable snow event.
Walk in Nanaimo, Nanaimo’s pedestrian advocacy group, recognizes that it is impractical for the city to be expected to clear all sidewalks of snow. However, WIN has urged city council to do better by enforcing its own bylaw to focus on downtown and commercial properties. WIN has also asked the city stop plowing snow onto sidewalks. Council has refused to consider any changes to the existing operational practices, which not only undermines the work of good citizens who did shovel, it puts our most vulnerable at risk.
Putting pedestrians at risk of injury or worse and knowingly compromising their safety is anything but a ‘minor inconvenience’ as some council members have claimed.
It is time for Nanaimo council to stop talking about pedestrians as a priority, and put in place the policies to give staff the needed direction that will actually ensure everyone can safely use our streets, not just vehicles.
Wanda Thompson, Walk in Nanaimo
POLL: How satisfied were you with snow clearing in Nanaimo?
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