In Minnesota we just shoveled the walk and threw down some salt. Actually everyone in the neighborhood did, we even did it for the elderly or those who couldn't do it. I miss those days when neighbors were actually friends.
Depending on where you live, you have to shovel whether you like it or not. What pisses me off is that a sidewalk can be on your property yet you need their permission to do something to it because it belongs to them. Yet if you don't shovel, they punish you because it is "your" sidewalk. They can't have it both ways but routinely do with things like this.