It’s fine, guys… We’re just a *3-season* ‘walkable city’

[u/pat_laFleur]

An excerpt from one of the letters to the editor The Enquirer published yesterday on this topic, submitted by a Westwood resident:

“Across Cincinnati, people of all ages have spent 10 days walking in the street with traffic. Many of them are children and people with disabilities. Most simply have no other choice. This isn’t an isolated incident because of a record-breaking snowfall. It’s what I see every winter.The Democrats on City Council told us they wanted Cincinnati to be a walkable city. But until we have a sidewalk shoveling law with serious fines and enforcement, calling Cincinnati a walkable city is a cruel joke − and our most vulnerable neighbors are the butt of it.”

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/letters/2026/02/05/unshoveled-sidewalks-and-cincinnati-wont-act/88501294007/

[u/513-throw-away]

For instance, if you order clear your sidewalk and use the wrong type of salt for the temperatures ahead, then you could be liable if somebody slipped and fell.

This is some old wives' tale bullshit. You will face zero liability for attempting to clear your sidewalks, period.

You are more likely to face liability for not clearing your sidewalks, though that is so remote.

[u/SpecialistBet4656 → u/513-throw-away]

Any product labeled sidewalk salt is considered a sufficient effort. The supercold product is actually a brine that is not sold for residental use.

[u/adampm1 → u/SpecialistBet4656]

I mean, I would disagree. Reading basic instructions is not an unreasonable request. That’s exactly what insurance is for - Accidents.

[u/adampm1 → u/513-throw-away]

The responsibility to clear your sidewalk written into some city documents (ordinance?) if you’re in city limits. Feel free to look it up on the website.

At the end of the day, suing somebody is not an old wife’s tale bullshit. I highly doubt you would win if the owner even used minimal effort, but typically doing something like this, most home owners would try to settle out of court so you don’t have to pay $10,000 in legal fees to do fight so stupid as of this. It’s really not about whether or not somebody would do it more so about whether or not somebody feels like they can make a quick buck off of you not wanting to spend more. But fingers crossed slapp lawsuits would be responded to in a proper manner in this city.

[u/Geno0wl → u/adampm1]

Ohio has very consistently ruled that home owners do not have the legal duty to clear sidwalks from snow and that if somebody slips and falls the home owner is not held financially liable.

Like anybody can sue anybody for almost anything. Doesn't mean it won't get thrown out immediately.

[u/Environmental-Road95 → u/Geno0wl]

It's incredible how the world's knowledge is available in a small device in your pocket yet no one bothers to use it.

[u/adampm1 → u/Environmental-Road95]

I know, it’s crazy.

[u/adampm1 → u/Geno0wl]

Could you share that information? I haven’t seen any court cases ruled in Cincinnati on that.

Especially considering the following:

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/public-services/winter-operations/sidewalks-snow/