City of Toronto reminds residents to drive and walk with care during today's winter storm

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  February 5, 2014

City of Toronto reminds residents to drive and walk with care during today's winter storm

The City of Toronto is reminding residents to drive and walk with caution on roads and sidewalks during today's winter storm. The City's full complement of snow clearing equipment will be in operation during the afternoon commute.

Residents can assist with snow clearing efforts; please note the following:

- Keep parked cars off the roads wherever possible. This assists our snow plowing efforts.

- Take public transit as much as possible. Fewer vehicles on the road helps snow clearing operations.

- Avoid parking vehicles over sidewalks to allow snow plowing equipment full access.

- Don't park in a way that blocks streetcars.

- Snow clearing on local roads is usually completed within 14 to 16 hours after the snow stops falling. 311 will not take snow service requests during this time. Residents are asked to not call 311 during the storm to ask when their street will be plowed.

- Private snow clearing operators and the public are reminded that it's illegal to push snow back onto the street from private property or parking lots. Bylaw enforcement officers will be ticketing property owners and contractors that fail to comply.

- Stay clear of snow plows in operation and do not pass between them. This enables them to move quickly and efficiently clear the roads.

- Snow plow operators may have difficulty seeing pedestrians or vehicles especially in snowy conditions. Use caution around these vehicles.

- Assist elderly or disabled neighbours by shovelling snow for them.

- The City will clear snow from sidewalks on local roads where it is mechanically possible to do so after five cm of snow has fallen or when icy conditions exist. In the downtown core of the city, property owners are required to clear their sidewalks of snow 12 hours after the snow stops falling.

- If you see someone whom you think requires street outreach assistance, call 311 if it's not an emergency. In an emergency, dial 911.

For more information about sidewalk snow clearing and to view a map of where the service takes place, visit http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/snow/sidewalks.  

Follow @TO_WinterOps on Twitter for up-to-date information on the City's winter maintenance efforts.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media Contact: Steve Johnston, Strategic Communications, 416- 392-4391, sjohnsto@toronto.ca