Hey, there! Log in / Register
It would be a shame if somebody tripped on their ice and sued them
By adamg on Fri, 01/30/2009 - 11:09pm
The Web site for Vessel on Tremont Street in the South End exhorts:
This winter, consider Vessel your source for beautiful, practical items that speak volumes for your good design sense.
These photos by the Missus of the ice-covered sidewalk in front of the store may not be beautiful, but they speak volumes for the store's lack of concern for pedestrians.
Neighborhoods:
Topics:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
Tropical Convenience
An afternoon this last week, I walked 1/3 mile along a street in Cambridge, and the sidewalks for the entire length were treacherous-- with the exception of that in front of a small ethnic grocery.
Somehow, the red brick sidewalk in front was completely clear, without even a hint of slipperiness.
A sign in the window said "TROPICAL CONVENIENCE."
If only they could share their convenient tropical magic with the rest of the property owners on the street.
Many times its the ethnic
Many times its the ethnic grocer or other ethnic store owner who is the the one in full compliance (at least in visible areas) because they take the law seriously and havent learned/become cynical to the fact that its a very hard law to enforce.
Plus the last thing I think of is tropical if Im slipping on ice, so they are doing their best to put you in the mood to enter their store.
Photo
Aha. I actually have a photo of the same place in the snow from 6 years ago. They no longer have the large painted lettering.
http://www.neilvandyke.org/weblog/2003/02/#2003-02-18
I'm the last one to give slovenly tenants/owners a pass,
(I'm in the insurance business) but if the weather of this week doesn't qualify as an "act of God", I don't know what does. I've been trying for the last three days to remove the ice in front of my own house and garage. Ice melt, axes, sledge hammers, nothing budges the stuff. Snow+rain+freeze+thaw+freeze=6 inches of ice. YOU try to move the stuff in front of Vessel. I'm guessing it's less lack of concern and more inability to do anything about it.
Try a propane torch
You need a really big one like this one. Just remember not to aim it near your house or your feet!
it's been brutal
I agree -- the melt-and-freeze pattern that has been this week has made it damn hard to remove ice build ups, especially if you're not at home during high noon when the stuff is a little easier to pick at.
But I noticed in my neighborhood, the homes that rarely/never remove snow also happened to be the worst in terms of ice build up. At least the rest of us made an effort, however fruitless at times.
I'd guess that business owners are similarly varied.
-David
Get some sand
It's the same around my neighborhood - there are some walks that are just never cleared.
But this one was tough to deal with - if you can't get rid of the ice, sand or kitty litter works really well to prevent falls.
Part of the problem, however,
is that, all too often, sidewalks don't get shoveled/salted down right after a winter storm, hence allowing it to ice over when the temperatures go down at night, which makes it tougher to remove afterwards. Regarding ice that's too tough to remove, however; kitty litter or salt work better than sand in helping to prevent falls.
stubborn ice
This week, I started to wonder if there was such a thing as salt-resistant ice! We laid down mounds of salt, and it barely made a dent! If only I had my 6th grade chemistry set around, I'd be experimenting...
Temperature Matters
Sodium chloride will only melt ice if it is above 20 or so - at least if it is thrown on top. Salt isn't all that good at melting existing ice if it is more than a few cm thick in any case.
You need magnesium chloride or calcium chloride to take out the already welded to the sidewalk type of ice. These work well under 0F.
you mean
...there's a reason why the ice didn't melt?!
This is very helpful! I don't buy the de-icer for our condo but will share info with my neighbor who does!
ixnay on the itterlay
Don't put kitty litter on your sidewalk. Do you know what it's made of? Clay!
Water from melting ice combines with the kitty litter to make a gooey, slippery mess that's worse than the ice was in the first place.
Kitty litter's use: vehicular traction
Yeah, don't use kitty litter for the sidewalk. No way.
But if your car has traction problems getting out of a space, it can be very effective. I've used it a few times -- years ago -- and it did help. But I didn't have to clean up the mess after the thaw, either...
Different kind?
Much as I hate to prolong a silly kitty litter discussion - I have used it without problems. I think maybe it makes a difference if you use the cheap old-fashinoned kind that doesn't clump. I know very little about kitty litter, not having a cat, and this year I just keep on chopping the ice or using sand.
What you need to do is pull
What you need to do is pull up the sidewalk and install a floor heating system then put the sidewalk panels back on. If its going to snow or rain you flip on the heating element. Problem solved!
I would love that
Some day when I am rich I'm going to put in a heated walk and driveway. They do exist, and they turn on automatically somehow.
Hmmmm....
Interesting idea!
Unless your near a river its
Unless your near a river its often asked that you avoid using sand when possible as it becomes a burden to clean up after the storm, its best to use another one of the alternatives. They make great ice melt that is safe for pet paws but doesnt stick around after the storm.
I also might add that
Sand isn't really that effective at preventing falls, anyway, plus, it's true that it makes a big mess to clean up once the winter is over and the snow's all melted.
Sand works for me
Sand works great on my brick walk & it can be swept in between the bricks when the snow & ice are gone. I walked over many walks lately that had sand on them & it worked just fine & provided traction on the ice.
There is so much salt/sand mix on my road that a little sand on the walk isn't going to matter as far as clean-up goes, but I don't use salt because it destroys concrete & bricks.
No, I didn't know what kitty litter is made of but it worked for me in the past. Ice melt (the not-salt kind) works to melt the ice, but it disappears and then the water freezes again - it's OK if you go out & chop the ice after it's softened & clear it away, but not that effective otherwise.
(Yep, I've spent alot of time trying to get deal with the ice lately!)
Best sidewalk in Brighton Center
Thursday morning I stopped by "All-Brands" (cleaning equipment rental store) in Brighton Center and found their sidewalk to be the cleanest anywhere in town.
Why was I there? To buy yet another bag of calcium chloride salt. They do oodles of business during the winter months selling this stuff.
What they ought to do is carry a bucket of the stuff into every single business in Brighton Center and sell it to the owner on-the-spot. I bet it would work and they'd do great business. Economic recovery through salt sales!
Does Chuck Turner own the place?
Didn't he refuse to shovel snow from in front of his house?
Somebody tripping on the ice and suing the store?
Frankly, I think it would serve the proprietors of the store right.