[Vision2020] Snow Grouch

[Craine Kit]

Speaking as a person who not only drives a 1990 Honda Civic but one  
with all-weather tires (learned how to do that Anchorage with a  
Renualt LeCar ), I agree with Bev (except for 4). I can go as long as  
my tires touch occasionally and I'm at the "sweet-spot" speed. I'm  
stuck when some @@#$%%^$%&**  in a big honkin', gas-guzzeling SUV  
with all-wheel drive, studs- all-around decides --despite the law--  
that "yield right-of-way" applies to the smaller vehicle.

One of the fundamental responsibilities of government is to ensure  
that the public can use their right-of-way (both streets and  
sidewalks) safely and efficiently to go from point "A" to point "B".  
For decades, the City of Moscow has taken pride in failing that duty.  
I can't count the times I've suggested improvements to the plowing  
system only to be told that I need to "accept responsibility" for my  
own transportation (i.e. run a a big honkin', gas-guzzeling SUV with  
all-wheel drive, studs- all-around or stay off the streets) rather  
than demanding that the nanny government take care of me by actually  
plowing the streets. I've fought for years to get the city to enforce  
the ordinance which makes properly owners responsible for clearing  
their sidewalks are clear of ice and snow. Same answer. I should  
"accept responsibility for my safety" by either wearing Yak-Traks or  
staying off icy areas (i.e. walk in the traffic lanes) so as to avoid  
harm caused by the property owner's negligence.

In other words, the city has dumped their responsibility for traffic/ 
pedestrian safety on the users of the public right-of-way. After  
banging my head against this for years, I've come to the realization  
that the only solution to the city's failure to  clear the streets  
and sidewalks is to have each and every person who suffers harm as a  
result --SUE the city for mega-bucks.

I am saying nothing against the hard-working people who drive the  
plows. They do an awesome job involving long hours. My criticism is  
to the managers who tell those workers to not leave a berm as they  
carefully go around parked cars rather than telling the owners to  
move their vehicles. Citizen participation in snow removal should  
involve helping the city, not having to run a big honkin', gas- 
guzzeling SUV with all-wheel drive, studs-all-around in order to get  
around.

Kit Craine

P.S. To the idiot who pulled out of the Co-op parking lot into my  
path at about 1:50 pm on the 21st as I was swimming my Civic through  
the berm doing a left turn into the lot: you deserved to be flipped  
off and the curses I laid on your head. By law, you were required to  
yield me the right-of-way. That means you stop and wait until I  
complete my maneuver. The fact your vehicle was bigger than mine is  
inmaterial.





On Dec 22, 2008, at 4:02 PM, bevbafus at verizon.net wrote:

>  From a confirmed snow grouch, my top 5 reasons to hate snow in  
> Moscow:
>
> 5.  *&%&$*#&$ Berms
> 4.  Physics-challenged people driving Honda Civics and Ford Focuses  
> who
> think they can drive over the *#&$$# berms.
> 3.  People who think that because of berms, driving laws are  
> suspended,
> and they can turn from the left lane on Jackson right onto 3rd or 6th.
> 2.  Landowners along all the major highways within Moscow who don't
> clean their *#$&*$& sidewalks. Especially along north 95, and south  
> 95.
> People are walking IN THE HIGHWAYS AGAIN FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!   
> (these
> landowners include the State of Idaho and the City of Moscow)
> 1.  And coming in at NUMBER ONE:  There is a right turn lane on  
> Highway
> 95 near Pintail Lane, people.  I am IN MY LANE.  I HAVE MY TURN SIGNAL
> ON.  Just because you are in the RUTS does not mean you need to lay on
> your horn.  YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR LANE.
>
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