TECHNOLOGY TIPS – CHICAGO SHOVELS
Now I know that the weather outside in Chicago has been
rather unusual for this time of year. We
also know that there are times when it can be 40 degrees out one day and the
next week the city is snowed in with a blizzard.
I came across this new website that the City of Chicago just
started to help neighbors for when the snow arrives. It's called Chicago
Shovels and according to the site, is a tool to help connect the public
with City winter resources and empower neighbors to come together to help
Chicago navigate winter.
What's pretty amazing about this site is that there are four
facets to the site. The first is the
Plow Tracker. Chicago already has bus
tracker and train tracker for its public transportation system and now you can
view the same for plows that are out on city streets.
The second is the Adopt-a-Sidewalk section. Here you can put in your address and claim
the sidewalk in front of your house.
It's a way to further your involvement as a member of the
neighborhood. By adopting you can share
shovels, salt and other neighborhood resources.
The third is the Snow Corp.
This is groups and volunteers to work with the City to help seniors and
people with disabilities who have requested assistance with keeping their
sidewalks clear.
The final aspect of the site are Winter Apps. One app, 2inch.es, shows what streets have
2" snow route and overnight parking restrictions. Another app, Was My
Car Towed, will help if your car has been towed
or relocated due to weather restrictions.
To see a full list of recent Applications for the City of Chicago, go
the Apps for Metro Chicago, which
I'll be reviewing in an upcoming blog.
CATHY MALLERS &
DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
