Everyone seems to recognize that Spokane has stopped bothering with snow removal. I don’t really trust my own judgment since I’m a walker, not a driver, and I don’t see areas outside my neighborhood. Still, I noticed the change in 2010. Before then, Spokane had used ample quantities of basalt sand on the roads, which worked wonderfully. After then, they switched to a Gaia-approved fake “deicer” liquid that is really more of an ice polisher. I call it Zamboni juice. The plowing went all to hell around the same time. I don’t have a serious problem with the plowing as such. The missing sand is the bigger problem. With enough sand, much less plowing is needed.
Tech note: Basalt is NOT like regular beach sand, which is light colored and rounded. Each basalt grain is sharp-edged and black. It provides traction on its own, and it absorbs heat from the sun to melt ice and snow.
Two other groups, with a wide variety of drivers in all parts of town, resoundingly agree that Spokane used to be competent and now it’s shitty.
The Spokane News facebook page.
The Spokane section on Reddit.
Fairness: Right now, as I’m typing this, snowplows are rumbling past my house!
Polistra's Mill 