The fresh coat of snow that covered Denver last night may be pretty to look at, but if you’re walking to, say, a bus stop on Hampden Avenue, you’re actually breaking the law.

That’s because some sidewalks on Hampden Avenue, a state highway under the Colorado Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction, are closed during icy conditions. Yep, next to a pristinely plowed eight-lane speedway, the sidewalk remains covered in white stuff and off-limits to people walking, ostensibly to keep them safe.

Some people waiting to catch the bus said that after the sun melts the snow, it freezes overnight, rendering the sidewalk even more hazardous.

If CDOT and the Department of Public Works want to keep people walking safe during winter conditions, here’s an idea: Clear the sidewalk instead of closing it.