# I pit people who do not ice their sidewalks in winter **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 28, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982 "2008-12-28T18:31:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/1 "2008-12-28T18:31:24Z")
for they make **Kythereia** fall and bruise her ribs, so that it seriously hurts to speak, breathe, cough, or laugh now. That is all. [/very minor rant] ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/2 "2008-12-28T18:36:17Z")
You’re confusing us Americans. If someone told me they iced their sidewalk, I’d wonder why they thought it was a good idea to pour water on it in freezing weather. We say “de-ice” here. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/3 "2008-12-28T18:46:28Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > You’re confusing us Americans. If someone told me they iced their sidewalk, I’d wonder why they thought it was a good idea to pour water on it in freezing weather. We say “de-ice” here. …I pit myself for not including the de- in there. :smack: In my defense, I really need chocolate right now. And painkillers. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/4 "2008-12-28T19:05:52Z")
And some salt would be good. Oops, too late. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/5 "2008-12-28T19:08:54Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > You’re confusing us Americans. If someone told me they iced their sidewalk, I’d wonder why they thought it was a good idea to pour water on it in freezing weather. We say “de-ice” here. It would be just like those wiley Canucks to coat stuff with ice, just to make things harder and therefore more character building… 😉 Hope the ribs feel better soon. I had a coworker fall at work outside on the sidewalk and hit her head. She ended up in ER, had a CT of her head: concussion. Be careful out there, folks. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/6 "2008-12-28T19:11:12Z")
I’d like to add my voice to this rant, and it’s NOT minor. Nobody \*shovels \*around here, let alone salts or sands. All winter long, I take my life in my hands every time I leave the house. Hope you feel better soon, **Kytheria**. ---
**Author:** ![Valerieblaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@Valerieblaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valerieblaise)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/7 "2008-12-28T19:12:12Z")
Ugh, I fell on some ice Friday and the right side of my body is still incredibly sore. Stupid jerks who don’t salt, robble robble robble. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/8 "2008-12-28T19:12:39Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > You’re confusing us Americans. If someone told me they iced their sidewalk, I’d wonder why they thought it was a good idea to pour water on it in freezing weather. We say “de-ice” here. Who are you Amelia Bedelia? (I just say salt - which is good in caramel sauce on top of that chocolate. Even if you are using a chemical deicer - its all “salt.”) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/9 "2008-12-28T19:14:08Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Who are you Amelia Bedelia? No. Words mean things. And jokes are funny. Unless there’s a rectal stick involved. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/10 "2008-12-28T19:36:52Z")
AC got whiplash from slipping on an iced-over sidewalk last winter. ---
**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/11 "2008-12-28T19:40:49Z")
I pit people who use actual rock salt on their sidewalks instead of shelling out the extra $2 to buy the non poisonous stuff. Bastards are the reason my dog’s feet are all irritated and I have to rinse them off when we come in from a walk. Bah! ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/12 "2008-12-28T19:45:30Z")
So, I hope you reported the person to the city, right? Generally I tend to let things slide, but when I…uh, slide and land on my can I make a point of phoning it in. Around these parts the city will go out and clear the sidewalk and send the offender the bill. I don’t much care about that - I just prefer not to kill myself when I’m out walking my dog. And frankly, I’m willing to bet the property owner would prefer a bill from the city, as opposed to a lawsuit. Jerks. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/13 "2008-12-28T19:50:33Z")
> [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](#): > > I pit people who use actual rock salt on their sidewalks instead of shelling out the extra $2 to buy the non poisonous stuff. Bastards are the reason my dog’s feet are all irritated and I have to rinse them off when we come in from a walk. Bah! There’s different kinds of salt? I just buy the big yellow bags of salt they sell by 25 pound bags at the grocery store. They only carry one type. I’m sorry, but I’m not going out of my way to track down some special type of salt for somebody’s dog. edit: I’m looking at the yellow bag. It says: Ice-A-Way Rock Salt. Ingredients: Sodium Chloride. I have another thing of more expensive deicer I picked up at target with “Traction control.” This one’s ingredients are sodium chloride and potassium chloride. I have no idea what this “non poisonous” stuff is supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/14 "2008-12-28T20:04:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > There’s different kinds of salt? I just buy the big yellow bags of salt they sell by 25 pound bags at the grocery store. They only carry one type. I’m sorry, but I’m not going out of my way to track down some special type of salt for somebody’s dog. At least around here, you don’t have to look too hard for it. Home Depot has it right next to the rock salt (the stuff in the yellow bags), I forget the brand name but it’s calcium chloride. Safer for animals, easier on your concrete, not harmful to plants. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/15 "2008-12-28T20:13:28Z")
> [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](#): > > At least around here, you don’t have to look too hard for it. Home Depot has it right next to the rock salt (the stuff in the yellow bags), I forget the brand name but it’s calcium chloride. Safer for animals, easier on your concrete, not harmful to plants. Isn’t calcium chloride an irritant, too, though? From [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_chloride): > [@](#): > > Calcium chloride is an irritant, particularly on moist skin. Wear gloves and goggles or a full face shield to protect hands and eyes; avoid inhalation. > Dry calcium chloride reacts exothermically when exposed to water. Burns can result in the mouth and esophagus if humans or other animals ingest dry calcium chloride pellets. Small children are more susceptible than adults (who generally have had experience trying to eat hot food, and can react accordingly) so calcium chloride pellets should be kept out of their reach. Seem like any [salt-based deicer](http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/466851/how_saltbased_deicers_harm_pets_and.html?cat=5) is not goot for pets paws: > [@](#): > > Calcium chloride, in pure form or combined with other salts, is the familiar white pellets we so often see. Yet calcium chloride, in that exothermic reaction, can heat to 175o F. This can burn a dog’s paw pads, mouth, and even the digestive system causing ulcers. The only thing I could find that is good for pets is something called “Safe Paws.” In other words, I’d like a cite that states calcium chloride is better than sodium chloride or potassium chloride for pets feet. It seems to me that none of the salts are particular good for their paws. ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/16 "2008-12-28T20:20:10Z")
Hope you feel better Kytheriea. I’ve been meaning to pit assholes who don’t shovel, and assholes who only shovel a path from the door to their car, but completely skip the sidewalk in front on the house. May they trip and faceplant into mounds of dirty snow, the lot of 'em! ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/17 "2008-12-28T20:20:34Z")
> [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](#): > > Bastards are the reason my dog’s feet are all irritated and I have to rinse them off when we come in from a walk. Bah! Yeah, because you wouldn’t have to clean the dog’s feet after he’s romped through all the nice clean mud, snow and slush otherwise. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Valerieblaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@Valerieblaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valerieblaise)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/18 "2008-12-28T20:23:27Z")
> [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](#): > > Hope you feel better Kytheriea. I’ve been meaning to pit assholes who don’t shovel, and assholes who only shovel a path from the door to their car, but completely skip the sidewalk in front on the house. May they trip and faceplant into mounds of dirty snow, the lot of 'em! I hate them too! ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/19 "2008-12-28T20:32:04Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > So, I hope you reported the person to the city, right? > > Generally I tend to let things slide, but when I…uh, slide and land on my can I make a point of phoning it in. > > Around these parts the city will go out and clear the sidewalk and send the offender the bill. I don’t much care about that - I just prefer not to kill myself when I’m out walking my dog. And frankly, I’m willing to bet the property owner would prefer a bill from the city, as opposed to a lawsuit. > > Jerks. Are the sidewalks not public property? (I’m honestly not sure but I always thought they were) If so I see how it would be common courtesy and good sense for someone to treat the portion of it in front of their house, but I don’t see how they could possibly be held responsible if they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982/20 "2008-12-28T20:34:30Z")
In most towns, homeowners and business owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalks in front of their property. Most of what I have to walk over to get from my house to the closest train station is either business or municipally owned, and as a rule, the business owners do a crappy job if they bother with snow removal at all, and the city does _nothing_. That said, most of the private homes that I have to walk by are indeed cleared. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-do-not-ice-their-sidewalks-in-winter/478982.md?page=2)