By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Feb 03, 2011 at 1:30 PM

Chances are you're spending some portion of your Thursday shoveling.

While you're doing a final cleanup of your driveway, sidewalk and patio, be sure to check around your property and make sure near by fire hydrants, corners and bus stops are cleared out, too.

Milwaukee County Transit System is asking residents to assist with clearing snow from the 5,500 Milwaukee bus stops and 700 shelters while reminding passengers and pedestrians to use extra caution near buses.

"Large snow banks and reduced visibility and traction create slippery conditions," says MCTS spokeswoman Jackie Janz.

Pasengers should not wait in the street if their stop is blocked by snow; instead, they should wait behind the snowbank and signal to the bus driver as the bus approaches.

Currently, the Milwaukee Department of Public Works has 295 pieces of equipment working to finish the city's snow removal efforts, focusing primarily on curb-to-curb plowing and clearing sidewalks on city property.

As of 9 a.m., 99 percent of main streets and 78 percent of residential streets have been plowed.

Trash and recycling collection will resume tomorrow and there will also be a Saturday collection. Crews will work overtime beginning next week to catch up on collection.

Residents are asked to shovel out their carts and clear a path from those carts to the alley or curb line.