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DENVER — Most cities in Colorado require residents to clear their walks of snow within a day after a snowfall, but as many Denver 7 viewers noticed and reported to us, especially the last big one. After a winter storm, that doesn’t always happen. End of December.
While some notices and quotes were being issued, some of our neighbors decided to jump in and pick up the slack.
Brian Wilson has been one of those neighbors for about ten years.
“It started in 2013, when I was commuting from Centennial to Commerce City for my teaching job,” Wilson said. “You just see this mess where students from other school districts need to stand out and struggle to get access. Then fast forward a year or he two years and there’s someone stuck in the snow in a wheelchair in their neighborhood.” I came to see
As Wilson puts it, seeing his neighbors struggling in the snow “ignited” his mind to shovel the often neglected public sidewalks. .
In the latest major winter storm, Wilson started the day at 4:30 a.m. to clear sidewalks and bike lanes near Teller Elementary School and along Colfax.
“I just want people to be able to get from point A to point B safely as I can,” Wilson said. “I can manage, but there are a lot of people who can’t, and they’re basically stuck in their homes and apartments. [the snow] Cleared. ”
Denver, like many cities, has ordinances that require property owners to clear snow within 24 hours of it falling. If not, you can receive written notice from the city inspector. If he is not allowed to walk after 24 hours from written notice, he could be fined $150.
However, actual fines are rare. According to the city, between Dec. 23, 2022 and Jan. 17, 2023, city inspectors issued him 2,065 notices. Of those, only his 45 were fined after 24 hours.
“We’re focused on education, and we’ve found that education is very effective,” said Laura Swartz, communications director for community planning and development for the City of Denver. “Most people clear the sidewalk after being notified by an inspector.
As a private volunteer, Wilson treks through the snow on his bike and shovel before the sun rises, so he has not been issued a subpoena or fine. The gratitude I received is enough.
“Sometimes they say to me, ‘It’s going to be a lot of fun here’ or ‘I have to walk on the road’. That alone makes me want to go to the next club,” Wilson said. “And it keeps happening all day. So keep going until you’re too tired to keep going.”
If you’d like to help with a clean walk in Denver after it snows, the city of Denver has a volunteer program called Snow Angels that helps residents who are physically unable to shovel.
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