Photo by Jalen Walker
By Megan Mooney, For The Miami Student
For Oxford residents and students living off campus, there are extra considerations to be taken as the temperatures drop and the snow falls during the winter.
Most students are unaware of a certain law that requires the property owner, or renter, be responsible for shoveling the sidewalks adjacent to their property.
"By local ordinance, property owners are responsible for cleaning up any debris on the sidewalks near their property," Assistant City Manager Kim Newton said.
This includes snow.
According to the City of Oxford website, if a person were to slip and fall on an icy sidewalk, the law holds the owner, not the city, responsible.
Junior Laura Ferguson found herself victim to icy pavement last January.
"Last semester I slipped and sprained my ankle pretty badly," she said. "I had no idea about the law at the time, but I think it is something that students should be more informed about."
Ferguson was walking outside on snowy pavement when she slipped in front of a house on Collins Street. No charges were pressed against the owner of the home.
As for the city, they are only technically responsible for keeping the sidewalks Uptown and the municipal parks clear. For students living on campus, Miami University's physical facilities take care of clearing away the snow so students are able make it to class on time.
Junior Maddie Slattery lives off campus and has been aware of the law for some time.
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"I did know this was a law," Slattery said. "I saw it on the news a year ago. But, it kind of makes sense because you're going to be doing your driveway anyway and it's not very practical for the city to be doing sidewalks."
Other students feel similarly.
According to junior Ian Young, the responsibility placed on students living in off-campus homes to keep their sidewalks clear is not surprising. His hometown has similar policies.
However, Young expressed his uneasiness for his responsibility for students injured outside of his home.
"As for accidents being the responsibility of the owner," Young said. "I'm not wholly convinced that someone injuring themselves on a city-installed pathway should be the responsibility of the owner of the adjacent home.
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