So, we are finally back, and we’re welcomed by the frosty weather brought to Bethlehem. At first, snow feels charming, looks pretty, and is definitely festive, and gives everybody the universal excuse to complain collectively about it (which, yes, I have done multiple times). That charm disappears very quickly when you realize the sidewalks have turned into an obstacle course and the road has become the safest place to walk. Yes, the road …where cars drive.
Tell me why I am literally walking in traffic just to avoid these massive piles left behind after the most recent storm. Lucky for me, I found out that Bethlehem homeowners and businesses are responsible for clearing their own sidewalks, which sounds great in theory. In reality, it means some sidewalks are pristine, while others look as if they were abandoned and forgotten. The result? Pedestrians playing a daily game of “guess which path won’t kill me or make me fall like an idiot.”
This is especially frustrating in a city full of students who rely on walking to get to the places they need to go. At my current placement for student teaching, there are many students who walk every day. When sidewalks are blocked, they are forced into the streets, and god forbid drivers use their eyes to see us navigating the icy roads and the current snowbanks that are taller than most people’s common sense. It seems walking safely is a luxury reserved for the warmer months…