After the first snowstorm, I noticed that many people still disregarded the regulations for what needs to happen during and after snowstorms.

Hartford has a Level 2 Parking Ban from 2pm on Friday until noon yesterday. This meant that all vehicles needed to be parked somewhere besides on the streets. Motorists are allowed to move their vehicles to school lots and those belonging to the Board of Education. While out, I noticed that as usual, many people decided to leave their cars on the street anyway. While the City has the right to ticket and tow, I don’t know how much they bother to do that. It’s a hassle to all, but it’s better than not having the vehicles moved. After large storms, people have to dig their cars out, and they leave chunks of hardened snow on the roadways. This often remains there because the plows already went through a few times. See, the idea is that with no cars there, the roads can effectively be cleared. Instead, what we get is dangerous hunks of ice to contend with while driving.

If there is a Level 1 Parking Ban, parking is prohibited only on “Signed Snow Routes.”

With the ability for news to be disseminated in so many ways today, there really is no excuse for not knowing this unless there’s a power outage. Parking bans are announced on tv, radio, and posted on news websites, as well as on the City of Hartford website.

The other matter for people to do with is sidewalks. The Department of Public Works has this information posted on their webpage:

It is the responsibility of the property owner to remove snow within 2 hours after it has fallen, or within 3 hours after sunrise if the snow fell in the night. It is illegal to put the snow into the street.

In the case of an ICE storm, the sidewalk must be sanded within 1 hour.

I have winter boots and can walk through un-shoveled snow, even if I’d rather not, but others who use the sidewalks, such as those in wheelchairs or with guidedogs, can not “go offroad” as easily. Leaving snow on the sidewalks becomes an accessibility issue.

With that said, props to Evergreen Street. While out walking, most streets had haphazard shoveling, or every few properties didn’t bother to clear. At least one side of Evergreen Street had its sidewalks completely cleared. Thumbs down to Lexington Street in West Hartford, where only a few properties cleared the sidewalks and I had to walk in the street.