Fredericton residents frustrated with slippery sidewalks

At least six people were injured in Fredericton over New Year's weekend due to slip and fall accidents on icy streets and roadways, according to the Horizon Health Network.

Derwin Drost says he was was injured on Sunday as he was coming off of the Westmorland Street bridge to Fredericton's south side.

Drost, who is often seen pushing his bike with a trailer full of recyclable cans and bottles, says he slipped on the icy sidewalk, 

There's a cast on the bottom side of my arm that goes from my wrist up to my shoulder.- Derwin Drost, Fredericton resident

"My feet went right out from underneath me," he said. "My arm bent backwards ... I grabbed my wrist to pull it forward and pop it back in place ... there's a cast on the bottom side of my arm that goes from my wrist, up to my shoulder," he said.

Drost, 53, says he lives on a disability pension of $570 a month, which he supplements with his daily haul of empties. With his arm out of commission, he says he's worried.

"My rent's paid today. And I have to get some empties in so I can put money in my bank account for next month, and I have a hydro bill that's got to be paid," he said.

Drost says city crews could have easily cleaned the sidewalks during the mild temperatures over the weekend. 

Krista Parsons was also negotiating the sidewalks on Sunday and she says she feels the same way.

"I have my two little boys, Bentley and Ashton, and the sidewalks are awful to walk with them," Parsons said.

Mike Walker, manager of streets and roads in Fredericton, says his workers monitor the sidewalks as best they can. 

"The sidewalks are plowed after a storm. When the temperature goes up and down, the snow can become loose again. We don't plow our sidewalks to create a bare sidewalk, the sidewalks will be snow packed, and as the temperatures change, that can affect the condition of the sidewalk," Walker said. 

He also said sidewalks are plowed in between storms and freezes, but doesn't know why some weren't in this case.

After complaints about icy downtown streets in previous years, the city is running a pilot project to salt the downtown sidewalks. All other sidewalks get sand.