SnowBuddy

SnowBuddy We clear a whole neighborhood's sidewalks every time it snows, for free. If we accomplish that we know it will be good for everyone.

We believe the sidewalk is a transportation corridor which only functions well when maintained in its entirety. We believe property owners are unfairly assigned winter shoveling of sidewalks, which are fundamentally public rights-of-way more appropriately maintained as linear pathways. We believe city government may be best positioned for this task and are acting to encourage city representatives

to regard the sidewalk as a transportation corridor, and to investigate whether citizens might support the cost of city-wide winter sidewalk maintenance. As a first step, we urge City Council to order a study of costs that would be involved, so citizens can make an informed decision about the value of city-wide sidewalk snow removal. In the absence of another entity taking responsibility, we use commercial-grade machinery and volunteer labor to provide pedestrian and disabled neighbors safe pathways as they travel to work, to school, to shop, to walk their dogs, to exercise, to venture around the block or around the town. Our standard is to facilitate safe and enjoyable mobility for the most challenged among us. Funding for SnowBuddy is modeled on a public radio station. Everyone in the neighborhood gets their walk cleared whether they donate or not, with enough neighbors contributing to keep us going. Donors contribute online at www.snowbuddy.org or by sending a check written to "SnowBuddy" to PO Box 7217, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. We estimate our average expense for clearing a home's sidewalk at less than $2 per snowfall. SnowBuddy began operations in the Water Hill neighborhood of Ann Arbor, Michigan on December 21st, 2014, the first day of winter.

Happening now! Gorgeous day, spectacular music, and amazing community!
05/03/2026

Happening now! Gorgeous day, spectacular music, and amazing community!

Come on down to the SnowBuddy Fest this weekend--Sunday, May 3, 12 - 6! Neighbors! Live music! Food! Drinks!
04/28/2026

Come on down to the SnowBuddy Fest this weekend--Sunday, May 3, 12 - 6! Neighbors! Live music! Food! Drinks!

Next Sunday at this time, we’ll be close to putting a wrap on our SnowBuddy Fest at Ann Arbor Distilling. A chance to hear great music, appreciate all the volunteers that make SnowBuddy possible keeping our sidewalks free of snow and ice all winter, and get to know neighbors. Join us next Sunday, May 3 from noon to 6pm. Remember to bring a lawn chair!
SnowBuddy Fest Music Schedule (Times approximate):
12:00 -12:30 Sing-and-Dance-a-Long Children's Music Workshop (w/ Kat Steih)
12:45 -1:35 The Glen Leven Band
1:50 - 2:20 Kat Steih - original songs
2:35 - 3:25 Chris Buhalis
3:40 - 4:30 Ukulele Slim & the Career Criminals
4:45 - 5:35 The Minor Pieces

Next Sunday at this time, we’ll be close to putting a wrap on our SnowBuddy Fest at Ann Arbor Distilling. A chance to he...
04/26/2026

Next Sunday at this time, we’ll be close to putting a wrap on our SnowBuddy Fest at Ann Arbor Distilling. A chance to hear great music, appreciate all the volunteers that make SnowBuddy possible keeping our sidewalks free of snow and ice all winter, and get to know neighbors. Join us next Sunday, May 3 from noon to 6pm. Remember to bring a lawn chair!
SnowBuddy Fest Music Schedule (Times approximate):
12:00 -12:30 Sing-and-Dance-a-Long Children's Music Workshop (w/ Kat Steih)
12:45 -1:35 The Glen Leven Band
1:50 - 2:20 Kat Steih - original songs
2:35 - 3:25 Chris Buhalis
3:40 - 4:30 Ukulele Slim & the Career Criminals
4:45 - 5:35 The Minor Pieces

Howdy neighbors - thanks for putting up SnowBuddy yard signs! We’ve collected them all this weekend. Looks like some of ...
04/05/2026

Howdy neighbors - thanks for putting up SnowBuddy yard signs! We’ve collected them all this weekend. Looks like some of you pulled them already. That’s great if you wanna store them safe and sound until next winter and then put them back up, but if you’d like me to come pick them up, just let me know. 

Hope to see you all here!
04/04/2026

Hope to see you all here!

High-priority Summit and Miller sidewalks cleared, the rest by about noon.
02/25/2026

High-priority Summit and Miller sidewalks cleared, the rest by about noon.

What makes shoveling snow uniquely dangerous has to do with the activity itself, which is why the American Heart Associa...
02/23/2026

What makes shoveling snow uniquely dangerous has to do with the activity itself, which is why the American Heart Association has been working to raise awareness of the unique risks involved. Here’s why:

Shoveling is static exertion, i.e., you’re standing in one spot and using your upper body to lift heaps of heavy, wet snow. “With this kind of exercise, you see sudden, big increases in heart rate and blood pressure,” says Franklin.

Hoisting and pushing tend to make us hold our breath as we strain, which in turn increases heart rate and blood pressure.

Standing still while you shovel or use the snowblower means that “your heart is running like hell, but you’re not moving your legs, so blood pools in the lower extremities,” explains Franklin. I.e., it’s not getting back up to your heart as readily.

And then there’s the constriction of the arteries of your heart because it’s cold; these are the size of cooked spaghetti to begin with, and get even narrower, he says. That raises blood pressure and means less blood gets to your heart.

What does age have to do with it?

“People don’t run into trouble if they’re 20 or 30 because they haven’t developed coronary artery disease," says Franklin. “But if they’re 45 to 50 or older, with known or hidden heart disease, especially people who are habitually sedentary, this activity is very dangerous.”

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a70456199/age-stop-shoveling-snow/

Big melt predicted next week with temperatures forecast to hold steadily above freezing from Monday morning through Thur...
02/12/2026

Big melt predicted next week with temperatures forecast to hold steadily above freezing from Monday morning through Thursday evening.

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Ann Arbor, MI
48103

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+17349967360

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