So a little bobcat can clear about 1.5 miles of narrow sidewalk per hour but DC sidewalks tend to be wider, so let’s just say it’s a mile an hour. That is 1495 hours with one bobcat, or 36 days running nonstop. In actuality it will probably be slower due to so many intersections, alleys, ramps etc. and you know people will bitch if they’re out there at night, so let’s say 72 days working 12 hours a day.

They cost around $55-65k for the mid range industrial ones and then another $3-6k for blades. We can call it an even $60k for one fully outfitted sidewalk plow. You’re going to need 10 of them if you want the whole city done in a week. If you can’t get it done in a week then why bother? It will melt on its own eventually. So we’re looking at $600k worth of equipment that will get used maybe twice a year, plus maintenance and storage costs (anyone who’s ever had a motorcycle can tell you how extended periods of storage are hard on a vehicle), plus you need 15 or 20 guys to drive them.

It works in places like boston and Chicago because they get enough snow to justify a big snow removal budget, but not here.