Reading, MA — Winter is Coming. It’s nearly here, actually, with a snowstorm predicted for this weekend. Reviewing the town’s plowing routes this week, we found many basketball nets protruding into the streets. For plow trucks, these small nets cause big problems because they are the same height as passenger-side mirrors. Even if the base of the basketball hoop is on the side of the road, the hoop itself remains within the right-of-way. One driver counted 40 nets on just his route Monday morning.
- Hoops break mirrors, costing the town time and money to repair.
- Hoops are a safety hazard because all mirrors are essential to safe operation of a plow truck during a snowstorm. Broken mirrors lead to delayed snow plowing and removal.
- In an attempt to avoid damage, plows cannot get close to the edge of roads, sometimes staying as much as 5 feet from the curb.
- If trucks do get too close, hoops in the right of way are likely to be severely damaged, and the Town is not at fault.
Plow truck drivers work the whole storm, whether it is 4 hours or 34 hours. While they do take breaks to rest, the drivability of the streets is their job and they take it seriously.
We are requesting residents pull their hoops not only off the roads (yes, some are actually on the street) but also to pull them back enough so as not to impede with Snow and Ice Removal in both the street and sidewalks. Bringing the hoop into private driveways for the winter is the best option.
In Boston, we all love the Celtics, and the mild weather has allowed many future Larry Birds to practice. But now it’s time to get ready for the big storms and show courtesy to our neighbors. Don’t let your basketball hoop be the reason the street didn’t get adequately cleared of snow.
