Chicago embraces social media with snow shoveling campaign
I couldn’t be more proud than when I heard about the city of Chicago’s newest social campaign. Encouraging Chicagoans to be more “neighborly”, the city has launched a site, ChicagoShovels.org, to make the mundane task of shoveling more of a social activity.
Residents can:
• Track city snow plows during and after a storm, following little plow icons on a city map.
• Adopt a patch of sidewalk online and use “social engagement” to track progess. For example, you can tell your friends on Facebook you got this sidewalk and you’re keeping it clean.
• Sign up for Snow Corps, which lets volunteers contact the city to find out who needs help shovelling their sidewalks. Seniors and disabled people can ask for help through the emergency line 311, similar to the system Toronto has.
• Check on the weather on the site or download “winter apps,” which include maps of banned parking areas during a storm. Another app is the former “was my car towed,” which allows motorists to see where the city “relocated” their car during a storm.
As a former Chicago resident, I can say that shoveling and parking in the snow was quite the nuisance. Several of my neighbors took part in the infamous “Chicago parking dibs” by saving their shoveled out parking spots with lawn chairs to prevent others from using “their” public spot. I’m glad to local organizations like ChairFree Chicago getting support to remind Chicagoans to share the parking spot love.
I’m all about this- I think it’s a great idea. Hopefully, other major cities find creative ways to engage their residents and support “neighborliness” through social media channels.
What do you think? Would you engage in the Chicago Shovels site if you were a resident?
Image Source: Meryddian Photography
