In other countries (Canada and the USA) it's the law that you have to clear and de-ice any pavement in front of your property, even if no one has walked anywhere in the neighbourhood since 1956.
I live opposite a grit bin, which is handy (I know, I'm stealing a small bucketful, but considering the number of times I grit the hill outside, I figure I've earned a little for my own driveway and path). A woman came out to help me yesterday, which was nice (admittedly she did want to drive her car down the hill and presumably back up it).