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| Traversing the District’s sidewalks was an extreme-sport Monday | Traversing the District’s sidewalks was an extreme-sport Monday |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Crossing 16th Street NW in downtown Washington Monday proved to be a treacherous task. The sidewalks were clear, but the plows had shoved snow to the side of the busy thoroughfare, creating a barricade between the street and sidewalk. | Crossing 16th Street NW in downtown Washington Monday proved to be a treacherous task. The sidewalks were clear, but the plows had shoved snow to the side of the busy thoroughfare, creating a barricade between the street and sidewalk. |
| When pedestrians reached the curb to cross the street, they were left strategizing how to thrust themselves over the remains of a historic, 36-hour blizzard. | When pedestrians reached the curb to cross the street, they were left strategizing how to thrust themselves over the remains of a historic, 36-hour blizzard. |
| “I’m just going to take my legs over and hurl them,” said Jeffrey Walls, a security guard at the Treasury Department, who stumbled across a half-dozen snow barricades along his way to work. | |
| Such was life in the region more than 24 hours after the intense winter storm had passed. The sun was out, more residents were leaving their homes and the graying mounds of snow that dotted the city’s landscape were becoming increasingly frustrating for drivers and pedestrians with places to go. | Such was life in the region more than 24 hours after the intense winter storm had passed. The sun was out, more residents were leaving their homes and the graying mounds of snow that dotted the city’s landscape were becoming increasingly frustrating for drivers and pedestrians with places to go. |
| Many pedestrians gave up on using the sidewalk altogether and opted for plowed streets. But D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) warned rogue pedestrians that walking in the street could result in hefty fines. | Many pedestrians gave up on using the sidewalk altogether and opted for plowed streets. But D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) warned rogue pedestrians that walking in the street could result in hefty fines. |
| The threat of fines did little to deter walkers who found the streets easier to maneuver. | The threat of fines did little to deter walkers who found the streets easier to maneuver. |
| “Walking in the street is the way to go,” said Thomas Oravasky, who trekked from his home in Arlington to his office in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. “They should fine cars, not people.” | “Walking in the street is the way to go,” said Thomas Oravasky, who trekked from his home in Arlington to his office in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. “They should fine cars, not people.” |
| Walking on the sidewalk Monday was sometimes more of a sporting experience than a commute. Jean Kiddoo, who lives in Dupont Circle, used a walking stick as she traversed unshoveled sidewalks in her neighborhood. | Walking on the sidewalk Monday was sometimes more of a sporting experience than a commute. Jean Kiddoo, who lives in Dupont Circle, used a walking stick as she traversed unshoveled sidewalks in her neighborhood. |
| D.C. businesses and residents must clear their sidewalks after snowstorms or face penalties, although many failed to comply, forcing pedestrians to forge their own uneven paths. | D.C. businesses and residents must clear their sidewalks after snowstorms or face penalties, although many failed to comply, forcing pedestrians to forge their own uneven paths. |
| “I have my walking stick, thank goodness,” Kiddoo said. | “I have my walking stick, thank goodness,” Kiddoo said. |
| [Despite laws, progress on snow removal is uneven. ] | [Despite laws, progress on snow removal is uneven. ] |
| Kiddoo walked in the middle of the street on the weekend, but stuck to the sidewalks Monday as more vehicles were on the roads. | Kiddoo walked in the middle of the street on the weekend, but stuck to the sidewalks Monday as more vehicles were on the roads. |
| Sharing the road with pedestriansseemed to irk drivers. On a narrow street north of downtown, a delivery truck tried to pass a pedestrian on the street who seemed unaware of the truck behind him. A few blocks away, a snowplow driver waved at a woman to get out of the way as the plow traveled down the street. | Sharing the road with pedestriansseemed to irk drivers. On a narrow street north of downtown, a delivery truck tried to pass a pedestrian on the street who seemed unaware of the truck behind him. A few blocks away, a snowplow driver waved at a woman to get out of the way as the plow traveled down the street. |
| Dana Argiro said that when she stopped while she was walking in the street early Monday to let a jogger pass her, an exasperated man driving an SUV waved at her to use the sidewalk. | Dana Argiro said that when she stopped while she was walking in the street early Monday to let a jogger pass her, an exasperated man driving an SUV waved at her to use the sidewalk. |
| “We’re in D.C. You should go park your car,” Argiro said. | “We’re in D.C. You should go park your car,” Argiro said. |
| Argiro had the day off from work and spent it hobbling over mounds of snow and trekking through slushy crosswalks. | Argiro had the day off from work and spent it hobbling over mounds of snow and trekking through slushy crosswalks. |
| “It’s nice that the city has a law to clear the sidewalks, but they should make sure the crosswalks are also clear,” Argiro said. “If someone trips, they are going to fall into the street.” | “It’s nice that the city has a law to clear the sidewalks, but they should make sure the crosswalks are also clear,” Argiro said. “If someone trips, they are going to fall into the street.” |
| The murky state of D.C. sidewalks also made commutes difficult for people trying to ride the bus. Metro resumed limited bus service Monday, but many bus stops were laden with snow. Bus riders had nowhere to sit, or even stand, as they waited. | The murky state of D.C. sidewalks also made commutes difficult for people trying to ride the bus. Metro resumed limited bus service Monday, but many bus stops were laden with snow. Bus riders had nowhere to sit, or even stand, as they waited. |
| Arthur Clark was waiting for a Georgetown University bus to take him to work at the university’s hospital. | Arthur Clark was waiting for a Georgetown University bus to take him to work at the university’s hospital. |
| Clark usually waits for the bus near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and 20th Street NW, but because of piles of snow, he stood more than 10 feet back. He wasn’t sure whether a bus was coming and, if it did, whether the driver would see him. | Clark usually waits for the bus near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and 20th Street NW, but because of piles of snow, he stood more than 10 feet back. He wasn’t sure whether a bus was coming and, if it did, whether the driver would see him. |
| “I hope it’s coming,” he said. “If not, I’m going to have to take a cab.” | “I hope it’s coming,” he said. “If not, I’m going to have to take a cab.” |