Walk Down The Cinder Road


Above: Break in between storms.

So yesterday I was over in Big Bear Lake and decided to walk over to Interlaken instead of catching MARTA. I am still working on building up my stamina so it ended up being a bit too much.

You see I first walked over to BVES and then back around, cutting through the back road from Kmart over to the center, then up to Stater’s parking lot, back again, and then hiking home when I got dropped off.

Today I am still recovering and yesterday, well, I could not do much in the afternoon.

But my real reason for lamenting over this is the cinder road, also known as sidewalks.

Now I’ve bit**ed about this before but the resort town of Big Bear Lake really needs to get it together because if you are a visitor attempting to walk down any sidewalk to shop, well–it is risky.

First there is the ice on the south side of all roads/sidewalks.

Come to think about it, I first took the time to amble over to the village from Paine Road (someone please clock that milage for me) but stayed on the north side of the road.

The north side was pretty clear because of the sun.

My motivation was that I just HAD to go snoop at Amangela’s new location but when I crossed over to that side, I was taking my neck into my own hands.

Between the cinders and the ice, it was not a great experience.

Now, if I were a business owner, I’d want those sidewalks cleared for potential customers but it doesn’t seem to be the norm.

If I remember right, the village maintenance peeps are not responsible for clearing the sidewalks, the merchants are.

BUT when the cinders from the road get thrown up onto the sidewalks and it becomes a hazard, well that is not a good thing for anyone.

And just who is liable for any spills that occur?

I got a lift down to SW Gas and then headed over to say hello to my favorite mechanic, Nick of Nick’s Auto. When I departed, I stayed on that side of the street until I got to Knickerbocker.

Wow, what a mess, I had to actually walk in the street on a thick layer of cinders.

Now the Big Bear Valley is not a great place for ambling in general ,but I took a good hard look around while I was on foot.

It looks filthy first off–because of both the cinders and dirty ice.

But the real thing is that if you were a visitor and wanted to amble from place to place, it isn’t conducive for that anywhere really.

Anyway, since it was a nice day and the walkways on Big Bear Blvd were not safe to amble down, I chose to cut down to Meadow Park on my way to what the local’s consider town center.

It was nice to check things out since I haven’t been down there for a while and a few rentals caught my eye…a three bedroom home for rent for $800 a month! I know of someone who just rented another for $600…good deals.

Just down the street a little further was another three bedroom with additional baths and a larger yard for $1300.

The economy has forced the hand of a lot of property owners to lower their rents and to offer incentives just based on the vacancy rate in the rental market.

Never mind the dangers of navigating the shopping centers. Between the lack of sidewalks and the speed racers in the lots it is pretty precarious.

What bugged me was that the disabled ramp up to Stater’s had not been cleared.

Now, never mind that it is too steep to begin with, and that it has a 90 degree turn, or that no disabled person in their right mind would be trying to go up an icy ramp–but if you a ramp for disabled people, aren’t you supposed to keep it up so that it can be navigated when the weather is nice?

Geez, forgive me for thinking.

Now that I think about it, over here in Fawnskin the Grout Creek Bridge walkway is pretty littered with cinders on the side of the road where everyone walks. There is a walkway path but it is a bit tough to negotiate when icy.

I still wonder who carries the liability and whether or not a test case will go to court anytime soon.

Betting it will based on the number of people I know who have slipped and fallen due to the cinders and the cars that have flipped or gone over the side due to the loss of traction due to the cinders and not the regular road hazards.

If you know about such things, leave a comment.

Finally, I was horrified to see the guys doing the construction between Brookside & Lodge tearing down the historic cabin behind their new construction.

You know, that old cabin that is next to the first cabin in the development here…on Lodge.

A historic home tour or restoration project might be nice (as I have mentioned before). But no, this mountain lake resort area forgets that it is just that and keeps filling up the place (and shoreline) with homes that nobody really lives in or those monster homes that only get used only about once a year.

In some parts of the USA people get fined for compromising their neighbor’s home or property value for damage or blocking the view–but not in these parts.

Okay, enough said…tomorrow is the Christmas Tree lighting. Scroll down to a previous post for the details.



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This entry was posted on Friday, December 3rd, 2010 and is filed under Business & Commerce, Mountain Lake Resort, Small Town Living.

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2 Responses to “Walk Down The Cinder Road

  • 1
    BadBear
    December 3rd, 2010 18:10

    Wrongo Bongo on Village ice. Prior to 1990, merchants and property owners had title to the middle of the street, including the sidewalks.
    By the start of the Street Scape project, that year, the “City” took title from building to building. The business and property owners pay a fee to the city for the general maintenance of the village, this includes snow removal. Public funds are not included except for the normal plowing as in any other city street. Now, as for your complaint about the ice on the sidewalk, I agree. BUT, place the blame where it’s due.

  • 2
    GG (Gossip Girl)
    December 7th, 2010 21:13

    Interesting because a few years ago I was helping out in the village and we had to clear the sidewalk. I’d say that the merchants need to get on the folks about it because if funds are going in for that service and it isn’t being provided, that is a problem.