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Linda Mainquist was converted to a pedestrian advocate when she watched a woman in a wheelchair struggle to travel down the roadway because the sidewalk was blanketed in snow (video). The dangerous situation galvanized the St. Paul, Minn, resident to action: “Something magical happens when you say, ‘I’m the one who should do it.’”

Mainquist contacted her local city councilmember, who put her in touch with St. Paul Smart Trips, the local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group. Smart Trips had already created a helpful resource for snowy conditions: A slick little door hanger that gave folks a friendly reminder to bust out their shovel and comply with city regulations. “I’m a neighbor who relies on the sidewalks being clear of snow and ice so that it’s easy to get around safely,” the flier explains.

Linda started hanging the fliers on doors in her neighborhood. “It’s really good because a lot of people are too shy to talk to their neighbors about shoveling their sidewalks,” Mainquist said. “I’m proud of this one block. There are a lot of businesses and, when I walk by and see the business is open, I go in and tell them I’m Linda Mainquist and I think you should shovel your sidewalks. It’s been successful.”

St. Paul Smart Trips isn’t the only Alliance organization taking steps to make walking safe in the winter wonderland.

According to the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago: “Snow or ice-covered sidewalks force people to travel in the street—a thoroughly dangerous enterprise. Uncleared sidewalks may even discourage people from walking at all. When people can’t walk easily to a destination, they might opt for making an unnecessary car trip.”

So they’ve come up with some snow-themed handouts, too. “Please shovel your sidewalk,” one flier asks. “It’s the law and the neighborly thing to do. Clear sidewalks make it safer and more convenient for your neighbors to walk.” To better serve and inform everyone in their community, Active Trans created fliers for both city dwellers and suburbanites; in both English and in Spanish.

Click here to download these resources from St. Paul Smart Trips and Active Trans. If your organization has model materials for keeping cyclists and pedestrians safe in snowy conditions, drop me an email if you’d like to share.