Traction grit, aka chicken grit, is a handy tool for preventing slips and falls on icy walkways. Many prefer it to sand due to its coarser granules that provide better traction and that are easier to sweep up and reuse later. It's a good alternative to salt, especially when it's too cold for salt to melt the ice — or in late spring, when the constant refreezing and thawing means that salt will simply get carried away into stormdrains.