Slippin’ and slidin’, on foot and otherwise
Posted on December 30th, 2008 – 6:55 PMBy Roadguy
At least four of my coworkers fell on their way to work. Facebook friends announced that they had landed on their butts after tumbling off bikes. Perfectly agile acquaintances looked like apprehensive toddlers on the slick streets. Last week’s thaw-freeze was bad enough, but the thick new coating of snow took things to the next level — or rather, the next level of hell, if hell had frozen over.
The sidewalk in front of where I live is shown above, in a photo taken Monday night. This skating rink appeared while I was gone for Christmas, and the time I spent with an ice chopper on Sunday proved fruitless. Fortunately, I had a bucketful of sand that I’d swept up from the alley a spring or two ago, so I spread that out, and after it was gone, I picked up more sand at one of the city of Minneapolis’ free sidewalk sand distribution points.
I’m ready to do another coat tonight if need be — the neighbor who shovels the snow may have also shoveled off the sand.
If you have an ice remedy, or a tale of a tumble you took, please share in the comments below.
13 Responses to "Slippin’ and slidin’, on foot and otherwise"
I’m a total wimp when it comes to ice because I have bad balance. When winter comes I stock up on salt, de-icing chemicals, sand, non-clumping cat litter, grit, whatever will provide a safe walking surface. I lay that stuff on the sidewalk outside my house so thick that any day I expect the EPA to declare my property a superfund site. I know it’s bad for the lawn, but after a couple of bad slips in my youth, I’m one fall away from a major knee reconstruction so frankly I’ll take the dead grass. (Although I’m seriously considering getting cleats for my boots as well.)
I have extremely wide sidewalks in front of my home. In all but a single stretch, my sidewalks are higher than the adjacent lawn. That single spot however, the sidewalk dips 2 full inches below the lawn. More accurately, the boulevard had mysteriously grown higher than the sidewalk. Not sure what caused it long ago, but it is what it is. When it rains, that stretch fills with deep puddles because there is no where to drain. In winter, that exact spot has grown a perfect ice rink (my son loves to take long runs at it and glide!) that matches the precise dimensions of the puddles from summer. My cure, simple as it is, is to shovel the sidewalk from edge to edge before my neighbors trample it, I get no ice except for the puddle zone. It is my intent this summer to excavate the boulevard down below the sidewalk grade to I can have proper drainage there. I hope it solves my ice issue.
Not just the sidewalks… The side streets are in terrible shape!
My wife noticed that our mail carrier was using crampons on Saturday - likely all week, I imagine. Not a bad idea.
Bikers who want to ride in this stuff should seriously consider investing in carbide-studded tires. Almost any bike shop can order them, or order online at Wall Bike (likely others as well).
C.G. writes
“My cure, simple as it is, is to shovel the sidewalk from edge to edge before my neighbors trample it, I get no ice except for the puddle zone.”
I try to do that too. Even if there are spots that get trampled down, a couple days of sun are usually good enough to clear them up. The key is to have exposed concrete nearby. Even on a well-trampled sidewalk, exposing the edges to sunlight will accelerate the melting of the trampled/iced sections.
yep. shovel before it’s packed down.
and then sand, sand, sand. we use pet-friendly de-icer, too. our sidewalk is fine. but our neighbors! oh, our neighbors!
My poor dog is so bored! I can’t take her on walks from all the ice. The Running Room sells rubbers for your boots with tiny spikes on the soles. I’m buying some today!
You know the sidewalk’s icy when even the dogs wipe out. Last night both dogs and I fell. It looked like the 3 stooges out for a walk.
I went to the Free Sand website and I have a question.
It stipulates that this sand is for “residents”.
I’m understanding that this means folks who live in the city limits, not the suburbs.
Am I interpreting this correctly?
Advice learned from a long list of similar experiences — In order of application: Shovel sooner rather than later and “in reverse” to avoid packing own tracks. Shovel “downhill” to assist drainage and to avoid blocking sun’s reach to pavement with growing piles over the winter. Shovel beyond the edges — no cowpaths = no moats. Apply combination of DARK traction assistanc (charcoal, coffee grounds, dark sand or pea gravel) and salt. Chop or shovel a “drainage” channel to curb, at lowest sidewalk point so snowmelt drains away instead of pooling — and maintain that with re-grading in summer if necess. Work with nature, not against it.
In an emergency such as an ice storm, just buy a boatload of deicing salt. May not be PC or “Green” friendly, but it works. Fast.
Lovetodrivegirl - The sand is just for city residents. But some of the hillier suburbs have their own sand distribution points for their residents. Check with your local street dept.
It’s a sorry situation when people relate to dogs.
