Street Lessons from a Blizzard (with sneckdown!)

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Street Lessons from a Blizzard (with sneckdown!)

Tonight I found something on my computer that we never posted. A real curio to publish 16 months later as we head into Summer 2007.

Back in Feb 2006, as the largest ever recorded NYC snowfall (26.9 inches) was winding down - although I'll bet we had some doozies during the Ice Age! - I popped outside with a camera to try to capture some traffic calming, transportation and livable streets lessons.

One caveat: with our new DOT commissioner and Mayor Bloomberg's ambitious 2030 initaitive, I would not make some of the same comments today. And I realize my "everybody can take the subway" soundbite is a stretch, but check it out - I think you'll find some merit as we present a StreetFilm from the cutting room floor!

Brooklyn Bike Belle

Gotta love snowy Clarence.
http://www.streetsblog.org Nick Grossman

Thanks for posting this, Clarence. I agree that really snowy days are some of the best days ever here in NYC. Can't wait for winter!
http://www.uppergreenside.org Glenn

Great video Clarence! I have often had the same thought about snow creating naturally occurring neckdowns.

I think one of the additional points is that the first intervention the city makes after a major snowstorm is to plow the streets and create these huge mountains for pedestrians to traverse.

And not to break the ideal scene, but I saw a lot of SUV owners proudly gunning their 4x4s down side streets.

A new DOT should think about how to plow bike lanes quicker and make sure pedestrians have access to the curb ramps to cross streets.
http://bikeontheright.blogspot.com S.O.

I love this film. I live in SF but I grew up in Manhattan and seeing the snow day bring back such memories. I love my hometown, but there are too many cars. Those days when snow covered the ground and there were no cars on the street were magical.

If you don't mind, I'd like to link to this video on my blog.
Milton

Touche!
Mitch

When I was a kid in New York, in February 1961, we had a giant snowstorm -- not as big as the one in 2006, but enough to shut everything down.

To get the city moving again, the Mayor banned private cars -- in the whole city for a day or two, and in Manhattan for five days.

It was a great time. After a day of shutdown, work (and school, alas) resumed, even without private cars. I took the bus to my high school in the Bronx wihtout much hassle.

When they reopened the streets to private cars, I remember feeling a distinct letdown.

Here's an article by Paul and Percival Goodman that proposes a permanent ban on private cars in Manhattan. A bit more radical than congestion pricing.
steveo

I saw a jump cut!

(And I love snow days!)
Peter G

Awesome Video Clarence-I love the back and forth between "real" neckdowns and snow made ones, etc
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