Watertown's Odd Snow Removal Ordinance

Let's begin with the bottom line: failing to shovel your sidewalk endangers pedestrians. Anyone who has to walk our residential streets in winter knows that it only takes one or two short stretches of unshoveled sidewalk to force you into the road. If you're a bus commuter, the walk home from the bus stop involves sharing dark and narrow streets with hurried motorists, who understandably find you difficult to see unless you're in the habit of wearing a day-glo orange safety vest to work.

If everybody cleared the sidewalk in front of his or her residence, this wouldn't have to be a concern. Read the story

WBPC Delivers 2008 Annual Report to Town Council

WBPC spokesperson Mari Ryan presented the Bike-Ped Committee's 2008 annual report to the Watertown Town Council on January 13th. The report summarizes the Committee's 2008 accomplishments, notably the Safe Routes to School Program, and looks forward to the Committe's plans and projects for the upcoming year.

The slides from the presentation are available for download, along with the supporting documents:

• 2008 Annual Report slides (requires PowerPoint viewer)
• Hosmer School Parents' Survey (pdf)
• Community Path Grant Application (Microsoft Word)
• Historic Watertown Bke Tour Brochure (pdf)

Watertown's Walking School Bus on NBC Nightly News

NBC News has a report on the variety of factors contributing to the increase in walking to school.

The report focuses on a town in New Jersey, but also includes a segment about Watertown.