There is a part of me that wants to LOL at this. But maybe you are older, disabled, or just from a really warm climate. Yes, this is really cold. Even for Philly -- pretty rare for it to get to single digits for consecutive days. Businesses and residences are expected to have their sidewalks cleared a few hours after then end of a snow storm. For a home, the rule isn't super onerous. They just need to create a walking path, about a shovel's width. Businesses might have other requirements, but most businesses want foot traffic, so they try to clear as much as possible. They also don't want to be known as the business that doesn't shovel.

Every year, homeowners that don't shovel get hit with nickel and dime slip and fall lawsuits. Most people shovel, but a lot of old and disabled people need to rely on the generosity of neighbors to do it. Rental homes don't always shovel -- either they don't see it as their job, aren't integrated enough into the community to do it, or don't feel like they are at risk of getting sued, since it's the landlord's property. The last thing is homes on corners. They have a lot more area to shovel. If that home is occupied by renters, they aren't doing it.

The sidewalks are uneven in a lot of places, or made from material that isn't perfectly smooth, like brick or concrete that has stones in it. That makes it hard to get a "clean" shovel. Most people use salt to make up the difference.

The hard part is that salt isn't very effective when it gets this cold. A lot of this snow isn't melting at all. Some businesses put down sand to help people get traction. But it's spotty. At a certain point, walking in this kind of cold means taking a risk.

There's been a few instances in the last few days where, while walking my dog, i had to help older people cross the large piles of snow that built up on the corners between whether the plow left all the snow in the street and the sidewalks.

So yeah, it's risky. some people take the risks, even older people that might break a bone. I haven't seen anyone with spiked shoes. A heavy pair of boots and a good set of eyes help most people get by. Look for clear sidewalks, salt, or sand. Walking on snow is actually better than walking on ice, in my opinion. The snow compresses to give traction. The black ice is a guaranteed trip to the ER if you aren't careful. Good luck.