One Simple Way to Anger Pedestrians: Give Snow Removal Priority to Cars

A large backlash followed a large winter storm on the East Coast.

1 minute read

February 4, 2016, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"A blizzard is the great equalizer in the city," writes Tom Donnelly. But the snow removal process following a blizzard: not so much.

Donnelly is writing of the days and weeks following the large winter storm that hit the East Coast at the end of January, focusing on the experience of New York City:

While plows worked the streets all day Saturday and into Sunday, some of the sidewalks still aren’t cleared, and a lot of those that are cleared are cleared with only a one-shall-pass narrow alley. More sidewalks are bordered by huge snow banks that make crossing the street impossible or are met at the end by the dreaded NYC slush pile, threatening to replace the Gowanus as the city’s most infamous body of water.

The neglect of sidewalks and crosswalks has invigorated a new level of anti-car political activism, according to Donnelly, documented by several media outlets. Included among the media speaking out about the city's neglect of the pedestrian right of way were Gothamist, New York magazine, and many, many upset citizens on Twitter.

Donnelly surveys the resulting backlash about the post-blizzard pedestrian experience in New York and identifies it as another sign, among many, of the conflicted way the city's law and infrastructure treats pedestrians.  

Tuesday, January 26, 2016 in Brokelyn

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Aerial view of Camden Station train station in Baltimore, Maryland. Train station is brick neoclassical building with three-tier tower.

Maryland Awards $1.25M in TOD-Related Grants

The state’s DOT is funding projects that prepare sites around transit stations for future mixed-use development and housing.

30 minutes ago - The Baltimore Banner

Aerial view of purple MBTA commuter train at station in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Judge Rules in Favor of Massachusetts TOD Law

The court rejected an argument that the MBTA Communities law, which requires zoning for multifamily housing, is an “unfunded mandate.”

1 hour ago - CommonWealth Beacon

Bike Parking Utrecht Centraal Station

Supporting Cycling Takes More Than Just Bike Lanes

Safe, protected bike lanes are a key part of a city’s bike infrastructure — but secure parking, e-bike charging, and other amenities can also influence people’s shift to cycling.

June 11 - Cities Today