BETHESDA, Md. —A Bethesda man is getting a lot of attention for taking matters into his own hands and plowing his own street — but he says his reasons extend far beyond helping out his neighbors.
Over the years, retired firefighter Richard Hoye spent more than $40,000 on equipment to make sure roads, crosswalks and sidewalks are clear.
Hoye has a garage full of equipment, including a skid steer, plow and other attachments.
“Being a firefighter and being retired, I really have a passion for tools and I don’t get access quite as much. So this is my midlife crisis toy,” he jokes.
It took him two full days to clear his dead-end street for his neighbors.
But even after the expected melt next week, Hoye says there will be work to do.
“The snow that’s rammed into street corners by the snow plows will stay there obstructing the crosswalks for months after a snow event,” he says.
Hoye gets around town on a bike, usually accompanied by his dog Rudder, and says he’s inspired by the people he has met who also are dependent on clear sidewalks and intersections.
“Prioritizing the most vulnerable users of our community is a way of empowering everyone in our community,” he says.
“And that’s the way we should think. It is disruptive to think that way. It requires change.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Richard Hoye’s name.
