Blind and disabled Bostonians press City Hall for equitable sidewalk snow removal and safer winter mobility

Access barriers after storms are driving renewed demands for change

Blind residents and people with disabilities are urging Boston officials to treat snow and ice removal as an accessibility obligation, not only a seasonal maintenance task. The push comes as winter storms continue to expose gaps in sidewalk passability, curb-ramp clearance, and safe street crossings—conditions that can force people into roadways or leave them unable to reach transit stops, workplaces, medical appointments, and other essential destinations.

Boston’s winter operations focus first on keeping streets open, while most sidewalk clearing is legally assigned to abutting property owners. City guidance instructs residents and businesses to clear sidewalks and curb ramps within three hours after snowfall ends, or within three hours after sunrise if snow falls overnight, and to maintain an accessible path that is at least 42 inches wide.

What the rules require—and where accountability becomes complicated

Boston’s snow-removal framework relies heavily on property-owner compliance, backed by complaint-driven enforcement through 311 and code enforcement. The city can issue fines for unshoveled sidewalks, with higher penalties for commercial properties and larger residential buildings. The city also states it issues snow-related violations and follows up on reports of uncleared sidewalks by contacting owners.

At the same time, disability access requirements extend beyond private shoveling duties. Massachusetts guidance emphasizes that the Americans with Disabilities Act and state accessibility regulations require the maintenance of accessible features, including keeping sidewalks, curb cuts, crosswalks, and other elements usable. While municipalities may assign sidewalk-clearing duties to abutters through local ordinances, they still carry responsibilities for ensuring that public programs and services—such as the safe use of public rights-of-way—remain accessible.

Complaints data underscores the scale of the problem

Following a recent storm, Boston recorded thousands of snow-related service requests through 311, reflecting widespread concerns about blocked intersections, buried curb ramps, and passability on sidewalks in multiple neighborhoods. City officials have attributed some street-clearing challenges to cars that did not move during parking restrictions, which limited plow access and slowed cleanup.

Policy options being raised: from enforcement to citywide priorities

Disability advocates have argued that equitable winter mobility requires more consistent clearing of curb ramps and key pedestrian routes, faster remediation of problem locations, and a system that does not depend primarily on individual property owners’ speed and capacity to shovel. City guidance already asks residents to help neighbors who may be unable to shovel, but advocates say informal solutions can leave major gaps.

The issue is also entering Boston’s formal policymaking pipeline. A Boston City Council committee hearing scheduled for March 6, 2026, is set to take public testimony as part of a broader examination of civil rights issues affecting city residents—an avenue where winter accessibility concerns may be raised alongside other barriers affecting equal access to city life.

• Boston assigns most sidewalk and curb-ramp clearing to abutting property owners, with a three-hour deadline and a 42-inch access path target.
• State and federal accessibility rules stress maintaining accessible features and safe routes, even when clearing duties are delegated.
• Recent storms produced thousands of 311 snow-related reports, renewing attention to curb ramps, crossings, and sidewalk continuity.

Residents who are blind or have mobility disabilities say winter access depends on continuous, predictable clearing—especially at curb ramps and intersections where a single blockage can sever an entire route.