As Philadelphia continues to recover from the biggest snowstorm in a decade, residents are having a difficult time navigating uncleared sidewalks and crosswalks, especially those with disabilities. Latoya Maddox – who is confined to a wheelchair – told NBC10 she hasn’t left her home in Kens ington for several days with snow and ice blocking her normal route near Coral Street. “Hard time maneuvering in your wheelchair,” Maddox said. “You’re going to get stuck. As you can see the ramp would be right here but it’s all iced over.” Robert Coates – a Nicetown resident who is also confined to a wheelchair – couldn’t access the sidewalk ramp which was blocked by uncleared snow. With nowhere to navigate, he had no choice but to turn around when he tried to make his way outside. “I ain’t going nowhere,” he said. Cornell Garrett, also of Nicetown, uses a walking stick. With snow and ice remaining on the sidewalk, he had difficulty getting to his bus stop on Henry Avenue Thursday morning. “I walk down there out in the street and I came up over the mound,” Garrett said. “I have to walk in the street which is very dangerous. A lot of these walkways are not even open.” NBC10 went to a bus stop near Henry Avenue and Abbottsford Avenue on Thursday. The untreated sidewalk was covered with snow and ice. City officials said they’re trying to make crosswalks, sidewalks and disability ramps a priority so that people can travel safely. “We’re working with all our departments to put crews together for this weekend so that we can start making passable lanes for pedestrians to cross the street safely, especially around SEPTA stops,” Carlton Williams, Director of Philadelphia’s Clean and Green Initiatives, told NBC10 on Thursday. Williams also said the city’s primary and second streets are currently drivable. He told NBC10 the next phase is getting the side streets in North and South Philadelphia cleaned up. A resident who lives on McClellan Street in South Philadelphia told NBC10 they saw the first plow in their area Thursday around 4 a.m., four days after the snowstorm. NBC10 asked Williams why it took so long. “We’re working grids throughout that area. So, we don’t just do McClellan Street, we do all of the streets around in that area so we can use maximum efficiency of the equipment,” he said. “We can’t just keep taking that much equipment and going spot to spot all over the city. So, we try to grid the entire area that is all complete. We get more efficiency and less complaints from the surrounding communities when we get those areas.” When it comes to digging out of the snow and clearing sidewalks, city officials said there needs to be a neighborhood effort. Under Philadelphia Code 10-720, homeowners and property owners in the city are responsible for removing snow from their sidewalk within six hours after the snow ends. The owners must clear a path at least 36 inches wide on their sidewalk and they’re not allowed to shovel or sweep snow into the street. The penalties for an uncleared sidewalk in the city range from $50 to $300. As the city and residents continue to deal with the snowstorm aftermath, Maddox is hoping for a change in the weather. “I foresee me being stuck inside for a while,” she said. “Eventually, I’m going to find a way to get out.” This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less