5 reasons why snow in NYC sucks

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Feb 102010
 
  1. It is wet and therefore messy. This is not the "fun" kind of fluffy snow that makes for good skiing, tobogganing, or snow-angels. This is the snow that is dense, heavy, packed, disgusting, and basically turns to slush the minute you touch it.
  2. New Yorkers have no snow-etiquette! Today I was ambushed from behind in a snowball fight started by strangers in Washington Square Park who clearly don't know that real snowball fights require at least a 10 metre radius from The Line. Sheesh. Someone get these people some winter sports lessons! Here's hoping they all tune into the Olympics next weekend.
  3. New Yorkers — and especially taxi drivers — do not know how to drive in slushy snow. They haven't yet figured out that perhaps you CANNOT make that turn so tight because there is a foot of snow lumped next to the curb, and yes, you will get stuck. Which leads me to…
  4. People don't shovel or plow here! What the heck?! I would have thought that in a litigation-friendly state like New York, that people (especially businesses) would be out there shoveling like the dickens. Not so. On my hour traipse through the Village and SoHo just now I'd estimate that roughly 35% of the sidewalks were cleared. This makes walking especially difficult.
  5. New Yorkers are rude in the snow. This perhaps is related to Reason #2. I have always defended NYC against the stereotype of rudeness that exists by non-New Yorkers, because my experiences for the most part have been that New Yorkers are friendly and willing to help out. Until today, that is. In the snow, no one moves over on the sidewalk to let you pass by on the dry side (despite the fact that it may just be you and one other person on the sidewalk, because really, there aren't many people out there). In the snow, people fight over taxi cabs on the street corners. In the snow, people cut you off to get in the doors at CVS. When it's snowing, people scowl when you sit down in the empty chair next to them at Starbucks. I mean, I don't like the snow either, y'all.. but at least I still have my manners!