In the fall, there is also the common problem of leaves falling in the paths, making them dangerous and potentially slippery for bikers.
Another problem that I noticed when talking with Polish people is very few actually like to drive in the winter as long as they can walk to the store and work. While we do not have snow here yet, I imagine clearing the sidewalks of snow will be a huge undertaking by the community to ensure that people can continue to use the local sidewalks.
In order to meet this need, the town hires several people to clean the sidewalks and bike paths a couple of times a week. These workers take brooms and trash bags down each street to clean up litter and clear off the sidewalks from leaves. They wear orange vests and are greatly appreciated by the community. I often say “Dzień dobre!” when passing them each morning on my walk to work. This means, "Good day!" in Polish and is a very common greeting. Without the tireless work of these city employees, I believe that fewer people would enjoy walking to the store or work, and there would be fewer people enjoying the parks each weekend. They do such an important job for the community and are recognized in a bigger way than anywhere else that I've seen before. Enjoying my walks each morning is one of my favorite parts of Poland, and I could not do it without their hard work.
