Today, Minneapolis sidewalks are covered with snow and ice for a large part of the year. While our streets are cleared by the City or by the state department of transportation, individual property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks. Unfortunately, this is a system that just does not work. If even a single property owner fails to clear their sidewalk, an entire block can become impassable.

This is an equity issue. People who have restricted mobility and disabled people cannot access destinations and as a result, leading to a reduced quality of life in winter. The ability to comfortably walk and roll in our communities should not be seasonal; it is a basic right.

The City of Minneapolis, in response to pressure from the community, carried out a winter sidewalk maintenance study. This study evaluated several options for clearing sidewalks, ranging from increasing public awareness to creating a city-led program to shovel sidewalks. The City also increased enforcement of sidewalks that were not being shoveled. However, these measures have not resulted in sidewalks being shoveled and cleared regularly in the winter. In the last six winters alone, there have been over 30,000 submitted complaints of uncleared sidewalks. We cannot fine our way out of this issue.

The study determined that after initial equipment investment, the estimated cost of municipal sidewalk plowing is less than $20 million per year. Divided amongst Minneapolis residents, the annual cost would be just $47 per person.

We are asking City of Minneapolis decision makers, including Mayor Frey, the City Council, and Public Works Director Anderson Kelliher, to fund a municipal sidewalk plowing program in the 2024 City budget.

This program will have the following benefits:

• Open up city destinations to people walking and rolling throughout the winter, especially for disabled and elderly community members
• Ensure that street corners and transit stops are properly cleared, improving access to local businesses
• Remove the disproportionate impact of sidewalk shoveling enforcement on people of color, people of low income, and disabled people
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance the City’s goal to have 3 of every 5 trips be by walking, rolling, bicycling, or transit by 2030

We'll be organizing throughout the year to fund a city-wide sidewalk plowing program in the 2024 budget. Join us in asking for this program by sending an email to City leaders and posting your photos on social media using the tag #PlowMPLSSidewalks