Even if you hate everything about the insurance industry, you have to admit that this sidewalk clearance around the Travelers Tower deserves an A+. Every bit of snow and ice has been removed from the walkway. Wheelchairs and strollers can be used on the space. There are actual curb cuts. This is what people should strive for.

Unfortunately, most sidewalks in Hartford today did not earn an A. Most were in the C and below range.

The Riverfront earned a B. There were no slippery spots, the paths were wide, and ample sand was used for traction. Why only a B? As you can see, there are some places where the snow was melting off. Though they threw down a bit of salt, I’m not sure that this will be enough for later tonight when everything refreezes. The photo directly below depicts Constitution Plaza, also a B for the same reasons.

Sections of Constitution Plaza were not shoveled at all, but those were clearly blocked off and did not create any real inconvenience.

This spot on Putnam Street between Capitol Avenue and Russ Street earned a C-. The right side of the sidewalk was okay, but it was only wide enough for one person, and definitely not someone in a wheelchair or with a stroller. The grade would have been lower, but the snow remaining on the sidewalk provided some traction and was not very deep.

This stretch of sidewalk runs along Capitol Avenue between Flower/Lawrence and Babcock. It has earned a D, but only because I did not slip. This utter neglect was predictable, as this section is on the property of an absentee landlord. This may look familiar because this property was condemned by the City of Hartford six months ago. I am not convinced this landlord owns a snow shovel nor understands the concept of rock salt.

The Latino Academy at Burns Elementary School has earned an F. Last night, there was no evidence that they used any salt on the property. Today, it appeared that someone threw the equivalent of three tablespoons of salt on their sidewalk that runs along Putnam Street. It was a sheet of ice with bonus black ice. I almost fell three times. To put this in perspective, I was wearing a pair of boots which I wore while walking on glaciers in Alaska. Want to know how many times I fell or even slipped while walking on the glaciers? Zero! How did they manage to make a sidewalk more slippery than a glacier? It boggles the mind. If I could assign a lower grade than an F, I would, because many people — mostly young children — make use of this sidewalk. For shame!