My wife and I live in New Hampshire but spend about five months in Bend every year, usually through the winter months. This winter I can’t tell you how disappointed I am at the conditions of the roads, sidewalks, parking lots of stores, parks, etc. in the city and surrounding area.
Coming from NH, I expect a lot, I guess – being able to drive on streets that have been plowed free from snow and ice, being able to walk on sidewalks or streets that are plowed down to the pavement – in other words, getting around in a safe manner.
Today (Jan. 10, 2008) the slush from the melting snow is even more horrendous, since it hides some very slippery spots underneath. Not only that, but when the temperature drops tonight, I can imagine what conditions will be later tonight and tomorrow for the commute to work/school. No wonder there were 50-plus accidents this past weekend during that storm; I can only imagine how many occurred from this most recent one.
Doesn’t somebody in city government get it? I have a feeling at some point you are going to – when someone files a huge lawsuit against the City of Bend for failing to provide safe roads/sidewalks around town. A lot of the aforementioned also goes for the store parking lots in the area – back home we’d avoid shopping at your store if you left your parking lot in the conditions I have seen.
Maybe you should contact other communities that do take care of these things and find out how they do it.
Slippin’ and slidin,’
Gary and Claire Philippy
This article appears in Jan 17-23, 2008.
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Amen! I can NOT believe the condition of the roads this year. In a wierd way, I’m happy to have read your letter here as I thought I was the only one who noticed the roads.
I’m left to wonder where the priority is and why it isn’t on public safety. I read somewhere at the beginning of winter that the costs of the de-icer were doubling – so the road crews were planning to use it “judiciously” as a result. They didn’t have the budget to purchase enough. Sadly, I can’t remember the source.
Soooo… The message I’m hearing here is that the bureaucracy has decided that our tax dollars are better spent on emergency response to a multitude of accidents than on preventative measures. Fabulous. Oh, and don’t worry about those medical bills if you should happen to be in one of those accidents, you have insurance, right? Oh, you don’t? Ok, well, St. Charles offers free care because they’re non-profit and have to in order to keep said status. So, all is well, right? *insert dripping sarcasm tone*
Here’s the part I really don’t understand… How can a government who won’t keep the streets plowed/sanded/de-iced feel justified in even threatening to fine business owners who don’t keep the sidewalks in front of their establishment shoveled? Am I the only one who finds that double-standard disturbing?
Here’s to hoping somebody with the power to make a change makes wise before another life is lost/forever changed or that lawsuit comes to pass.
Sliding is for tubes on snowy hills!
The city of Bend has not set very good examples lately concerning many subjects, lately, clearing city streets, city sidewalks not excepted. It simply demonstrates the shortsighted planning for snow removal by shortsighted city staff trying to save money in the wrong areas and highlights the lack of experience in living in Bend during the highly unpredictable winter months. I have lived in Bend for 35 years and have always planned for lots of snow, which means having good snow shovels at ready and environmentally friendly snow/ice melt handy. Merchants should stop whining and plan for sidewalk snow removal every year. This is not Florida and never will be. Snow removal is physical work, so get in shape, get the proper tools, dress sensibly and warmly, learn how to move the snow properly. Lets think positively and get the job done, with out the threats of fines or punishment.
Nefer
I must say your post is the way it should be, with everyone doing as they should. But that time has passed us by. The city has dropped the ball this year and after spending time talking to the councilman and several city officials the only way to fix this problem is with my vote in the next election. From my point of view they really do not care about snow removal. One councilman replied that they are doing a very good job. Well I beg to differ. Many areas were not plowed after the first storm and many roads on the West side were in very bad shape. Then with the second storm on top of the first, made for a very bad situation.
The time has come for me to see that this problem is fixed. The city need a wake up call.