Coming up on a month of unusable bike lanes now. As of this morning most of them were still unsafe to use. Can DPW please go take a pass at them? We only have 7 miles and they are nearly all on arterial streets with no good alternatives.

Seems to be a chronic issue, see similar posts from every winter since these lanes were installed. Obviously the snow clearing plans need to be updated to accommodate & maintain this new infrastructure. Streets & sidewalks are cleared year round, why aren’t the bike lanes?

Currently listed Burlington Public Works Ice and Snow removal plan is outdated and in need of updating. Appendix A for bike lanes is outdated and needs to have new facilities added so they can be maintained. Also the document lists that all bike lanes are on major truck routes (not true i.e. ONE Wiggle). Document states bicycles will be given last priority.

"Burlington has 7.75 miles of dedicated bike lanes throughout the City. They are all on major truck routes and the lane will be plowed to the curb. After the roads and sidewalks are cleared, DPW will dispatch a sidewalk tractor and clean the bike lane free of snow. (Appendix A)

https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/sites/default/files/BURLINGTON%20PUBLIC%20WORKS%20SNOW%20SOP.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0R0ykXDTWbW66e4cj7dJ9bCX_glJ7w2-OhHW9KchFm6RFTZfM8hyDkdYg

I don't think any streets are plowed to the curb. This time of year curbs get lost under the snowbanks (because they don't plow to the curb, and sometimes there isn't enough room for the snowbank), and the road narrows significantly.

Good find, this is a fairly unsuitable policy and it does not deliver what is needed, as we have seen in the last four weeks. Once the snow is compacted and frozen, it is impossible for a sidewalk tractor to properly clear the bike lane, several days after the storm.

Damon Lane, yes, especially after large snow fall events we should engage in actual snow removal in some places, not just plowing.

Oy!

I get harassed and yelled at by people in cars because I can’t use the bike lanes safely. What is the point of them if they’re not usable?

The Department of Public Works has resolved this request. Thanks for helping to keep Burlington a great place to live and work.
They have all been scraped since.

Not really resolved. The sidewalk plows cannot remove accumulated hard ice, they are too light. South Winooski is still only about half as wide as it should be in many places, and riddled with accumulated ice. Please use the big trucks where possible, folks!

Can we please address the snow/ice removal policy as it relates to bikes. See comment above about how the policy is completely outdated, inaccurate and needs to be rewritten. Thank you.

Thank you for reporting this issue. The Department of Public Works will now begin its investigation into the matter.

Lee Perry, Assistant Director, Maintenance Division assigned this issue to DPW Public Information Manager

This issue was recategorized from Snow Plowing to Request for Information.

Thank you for your inquiry. The snow and ice control plan was presented at the February Public Works Commission meeting, where we also heard feedback from the Commission and from two members of the public during public comment. Clearing bike lanes, sidewalks and roads are always a matter of resources, personnel and time. While the repeated freeze/thaws have been a challenge this winter, we must continue improving clearing the city of snow and ice. The Plan is being evaluated as is its implementation.

See Click Fix is best used as a reporting tool and we welcome those reports. To continue the dialogue about the snow and ice plan, we encourage you to call or attend future TEUC or Commission meetings. Thank you.