| Topic: | Re:Should the pavements be gritted as well? | |
| Posted by: | Allison Franklin | |
| Date/Time: | 08/01/10 12:30:00 |
| I sympathise, but may i also suggest that people consider their footwear, which makes a huge difference. This is a cultural thing - little old ladies in Switzerland have slip-on rubber spikes over their shoes, and my friend who broke his leg in France (the alps) was even given crutches with spikes on, for ice and snow. Here in the UK it always seems to be the Council's problem, while we all drive around on summer tyres and wear our summer shoes. It takes two surfaces to get a grip on each other, so please consider what's on your feet as well as what's on the road. --------------------------------------------------- I have considered my footwear, thanks. I wear flat shoes with good grips or proper leather walking boots - and the pavements are still like a skating rink. I have weakened bones at the moment and do not want to take the risk of going out, slipping over and breaking something major like a hip. I am not anywhere near retirement age but my current medical condition means it would be a stupid risk (in my opinion) to venture out in this weather. If the pavements were salted and gritted, I would go out for a short walk at least but Ealing Council does not seem to give two hoots about pedestrians unless they are spending money in the shops. I know these weather conditions are very unusual but the Council never bother about pavements around my part of Ealing and I live just off a main thoroughfare with a bus route on it. I would have thought at least that road should have been tended to so people could safely walk to public transport. For anyone interested in the rubber spikes contraption, they are called Get a Grip and you can buy them on Amazon. I am waiting for mine to arrive as they are out of stock at the moment. You can also buy Yaktracks but they too are temporarily out of stock (see their website). |