BUFFALO, N.Y. -- With all the snow piled up on city sidewalks and lining streets, getting on and off the bus at NFTA bus stops can be a bit of a challenge.
Just ask Chris Harvey.
"I'd say about 90 percent of the ones I've been on are like this. There's kind of a little where people have been walking, a little trench where you just kinda step off and hope for the best," said Chris Harvey.
It's hit and miss all over the city. Some bus stops are clear and easily accessible, while others have even bus drivers taking notice.
We took that question to NFTA spokesperson C. Douglas Hartmayer.
"The NFTA is responsible for cleaning it's property: Park and Ride at LaSalle, Park and Ride at University Station, the entire Metro Rail stations, the transportation center downtown. Those are our properties and that is what we are responsible for clearing the snow from," said Hartmayer.
So exactly who is responsible for clearing the snow around bus stops?
"The bus shelter is ours, the sidewalk is not. And therein lies I think some of the confusion, because it's really the municipalities responsibility to either take care of it or subsequently delegate that to the adjoining property owner who then has the responsibility to clean that sidewalk including the area around the shelter," said Hartmayer.
Hartmayer admits the severe winter has made it difficult for the NFTA and the municipalities to keep up with the snow and ice. Still, he said it's important that everyone do his part to keep the streets and sidewalks clean.
"Many hands make for light work and it would make it a lot easier and a lot safer for people to navigate those sidewalks and to use our public transportation system," said Hartmayer.