(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — This week's blast of winter weather has given a boost to a petition drive to get the city of Chicago to take responsibility for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks.
The group Better Streets Chicago launched the petition and claims many sidewalks are not cleared of snow and ice, even though a city ordinance requires home owners, landlords and businesses to do so.
Organizer Michael Podgers said sidewalks are as important to the city's transportation as roads, especially for residents with mobility issues.
Also, he said, other cities take control of sidewalk-clearing, including Toronto.
“The cities are almost identical. And then on top of it, you then have these two cities that are kind of the same shape, they’re up against a Great Lake, they kind of thinner and longer. And Toronto has managed to scale sidewalk snow-clearance to the entire city,” Podgers said.
The petition has nearly 5,000 signatures, and his group hopes to submit it to the city this spring.
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