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“Municipalities, for many years, have prioritized drivers over pedestrians . . . but we are starting to say . . . ‘Pedestrians, cyclist, children and the elderly are vulnerable road users and need to be prioritized in the urban environment,’” she said. “Now our street clearing policies need to keep up with that shift.

“For many people, the snow not being removed is the difference between moving freely and safely around the city and being trapped.”

Issues around snow removal have been highlighted by a harsh second half of winter that included episodes of freezing rain through Southwestern Ontario, creating icy and hazardous conditions for pedestrians.

Officials with Middlesex-London Paramedic Service say they see a spike in the number of calls for service due to slips and falls during icy winters, including this year.

“Any winter that we have issues with the ice, we are going to see more of those kinds of falls and injuries,” said Miranda Bothwell, public education co-ordinator.

But prioritizing sidewalks may not be practical, said John Parsons, London’s manager of roadside operations, adding the city follows the snow removal standards set by the province.

He said sending snowplows after sidewalks have been cleared would only lead to sidewalks being filled again by snow from the roads.

We are telling residents that is good to be cycling, that is good to be walking, that is good to be using transit, that all of this is good for the environment and creating a sustainable city, but on the flip side . . . we aren’t delivering on the operational services that are required Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto’s former chief planner

“Getting roads clear is our priority, especially the main roads, because emergency vehicles are using those at a higher rate of speed, so we want to make sure those are cleaned off and cleared up,” Parsons said, noting sidewalks are sanded continuously to help with traction.

He acknowledged this winter has been particularly challenging.

“When a freezing rain event comes upon us and it instantly makes everything ice-covered, it takes us some time to get through and sand that network,” Parsons said. “We have to start somewhere and we need to end somewhere, so we need to be afforded the time to get through and clear the sidewalks.”

jjuha@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/JuhaatLFPress