Clear sidewalks of snow, Deschutes County reminds

As winter arrives in Central Oregon, the Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) reminds property owners to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice.

Bend, La Pine, Redmond, and Sisters all have ordinances relating to the year-round clearing of sidewalks. While the language varies, the message is the same – business or property owners must remove ice or snow from the sidewalk adjoining their property within a defined time to keep pedestrian walkways clear.

Generally, in business districts, the time limit is six hours and in residential areas it is 24 hours.

These city codes help make sidewalks safer and encourage good business practices. When pathways are clear, the message to customers is that the business cares about safety and welcomes access for all to the front door.

The BPAC is an advisory committee of the Deschutes County Commission that seeks to improve conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians throughout Deschutes County. Each year, BPAC recognizes businesses and residents that go above and beyond their legal obligations to keep sidewalks free of snow and ice with Safe Sidewalk awards.

To learn more about BPAC, or the Safe Sidewalk campaign, please visit: www.deschutes.org/BPAC .