Who should be responsible for sidewalk snow removal?

Like so many things, it needs to be turned into an embarassing news story or several sizable lawsuits before it will be enforced. Until then, no one can be bothered.

You own it, you shovel it. That's too simple for the Rogue Island citizenry.

There should be a revisiting of all state, municipal and private property owners' (residents/businesses) obligations to maintain their immediate sections of sidewalk maintenance in Rhode Island.

For example, older and/or disabled property owners have many restrictions (i.e., age, handicapped, financial, ect.) that poses a hardship.

Agencies that have clientele usage, Post Offices/Boxes, RIPTA (public transportation) should devise a statewide, district plan to shovel out and allow access to their stations strewn around the state.

Like our budgetary and financial state and local governments, the IDEA[s] of Economy of Scales should be an application that is provided in the private sector in purchasing new and practical snow removal light machinery that can be purchased say on line, at cost for state, local and quasi-government agencies, chambers of commerce, churches, businesses and residents in allowing a concerted effort all the way around.

These are the ideas that need to be explored, reviewed, revisited, implemented as a doable ongoing plan to have government serve its citizenry while its citizens equally cooperates and bolsters the aggregate processes of the government it supports.

Home owners and business owners should be responsible for the sidewalks in front of their establishments. AND town governments should clear sidewalks that are not near a business or home. For example in Barrington the town NEVER clears the walk near the bus stops. This is very dangerous for RIPTA riders. While the town can berate (and fine) residents for not clearing the sidewalks near their home, they don't practice what they preach. It drives me crazy.

Shoveling sidewalks has always been an effort in futility. No sooner do you shovel, a plow comes along and throws it right back on the sidewalk with snow that is twice as heavy. Residents and business owners are not allowed to shovel sidewalk snow onto the street but plows have no problem doing just that. Who's snow is it?