With this week’s long-awaited thaw, some of us probably breathed a sigh of relief. Pitchers and catchers are reporting for spring training any day now, so baseball and warm temperatures can’t be far behind.

So long, snow and ice. It’s been real, but it hasn’t been fun.

But wait — there’s (probably) more!

Remember, one of the worst storms in the region’s history came in mid-March 1993. We might not get another one of those, but there’s a good chance we’ll have another bitter, cold taste of winter before the boots, gloves and snow shovels go back into storage.

So here’s a plea. When another storm comes along, homeowners, business owners and municipalities should do their best to clear the sidewalks in front of their properties.

You know — like a lot of them still haven’t done with the snow from the storm of three weeks ago. Even today, on the heels of some of the warmest weather we’ve seen since November, some sidewalks in the Mahoning Valley remain all but impassable on foot.

In fact, a woman was struck and injured by a passing vehicle while walking on Belmont Avenue in Liberty Township this week. Surrounding sidewalks? Still full of snow and ice.

We’re lucky someone hasn’t been killed because they had no other choice but to walk in the street along some of our main thoroughfares. If you’ve driven before sunrise or after sunset in recent weeks, you’ve doubtlessly seen pedestrians — some walking against traffic and some with it — making their way home or elsewhere along a main route because the sidewalks hadn’t been touched.

People who must do that are literally gambling with their lives. In our experience, many aren’t dressed for the endeavor, sporting dark clothes, coats and shoes. In other words, nothing that might signal their presence on the road to drivers. If you know you’re likely to have to walk along roads and streets, dress accordingly with reflective gear. It might just save your life.

Others can help by clearing sidewalks adjacent to their properties. Some homeowners may be elderly or otherwise physically unable to do so. Those who can should help. Business owners and municipalities also should take ownership of snowy sidewalks. Perhaps some enterprising teens could make a few bucks by contracting to do that work.

No one should be seriously injured or killed because the sidewalks they would ordinarily use are still full of knee- or waist-high snow.

We’d like to think we’re done with that stuff, but we live in Ohio. Expect more.