Snow way, snow how? How Fredericton refuses to make winter sidewalks accessible

Winter snow removal is an issue every year and yet, somehow, the city of Fredericton relegates sidewalks to the back burner. This decision leaves behind large snow piles that make it impossible for drivers to see properly in the road, icy slopes that are impossible to walk across safely, and hurdles of snow for every step people try to take.

When bus stop access is restricted, people are forced to stand on the street. It is a treacherous walk for anyone, especially those who have mobility issues or for older adults. The City of Fredericton must renew investment in snow removal, especially for sidewalks.

City officials may claim they are doing the best that they can. Their “best” mandates all streets are plowed within 24 hours, with sidewalks are relegated to 48 hours after a snowstorm.  What does City Hall expect locals to do during those 48 hours? People still need to walk to work, school, or take public transit. Those initial hours after a storm are the critical period, otherwise those walks can be downright dangerous.

The city’s policy is bluntly ableist. According to AbilityNB, mobility is the third most prevalent disability type in NB, with 45.2 per cent of disabled adults having a mobility disability. This represents more than 73,000 people over the age of 15. Mobility disabilities are the most common type of disability of adults over the age of 65, who are around 20 per cent of the overall population since 2021 according to Statistics Canada

According to data from the Canadian Institute of Health for Information, in 2017-2018, there were almost 300 injury hospitalizations due to falls on ice in NB alone. Many individuals with mobility issues can feel trapped in their homes when sidewalks are not plowed. Wheelchair users are physically unable to go through the streets and those with mobility aids are in a similar bind. What’s the point of an “accessible” bus stop when people need to climb over a snowbank to reach it! Perhaps the city should prepare talking points and handouts on how pedestrians should avoid cars when they’re forced into the streets while waiting for the bus during those 48 hours after a storm.

It doesn’t have to be this way! Other jurisdictions put the safety of pedestrians at the forefront: Sweden prioritizes snow removal of sidewalks first instead of streets. Helsinki, Finland will clear main streets and sidewalks simultaneously, then move onto doing residential streets and sidewalks. Places like Oslo, Sapporo, and Reykjavik also use underground thermal energy, heating, and electric elements in sidewalks to reduce the impact of snow and ice.

In short, there are policy alternatives, if our councillors have the will to enact them.

If you feel tempted to rebut these measures would cost the municipality too much money, Consider the $22.4 million dedicated to mobility measures to allow people the ability to get around Fredericton. Why not dedicate some of those funds to snow removal?

This would be an investment in Fredericton’s economy. People can get to and from work and do their shopping, more people would ride the bus instead of taking taxis, and crucially fewer people end up in the hospital due to falling on the ice.

The municipality of Fredericton urgently needs to invest in the removal of snow from sidewalks on main streets and residential streets. We need your support to make this a priority at city council. Otherwise, these issues will remain or get worse as Fredericton continues to relegate snow removal to the back burner.

Kyra Wilson is a current Bachelor of Social Work student, who has lived in Fredericton for almost seven years. She has previous experience working with individuals who are disabled, including those with mobility devices. She lives downtown and commutes through the bus system daily.