Posted by Lying on my back, having just banged the back of my head on the cold sidewalk ice, my body did that thing we all do when we face a moment of trauma. “Does everything still work? Is anything broken? Is my vision OK? How about my teeth? Wrists, and ankles?”
I had taken a hard backwards fall on black ice. I was fine, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pounding pain relief medication all day today. As we get older, those falls stick with us for days, weeks and even months where recovery used to be swift.
Today, the low temperature was 9 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind was blowing the newly fallen snow at 40 mph, making the cold even colder, and creating whiteout conditions. To the East, Central New York saw several feet of snow fall, causing havoc on roads and highways.
It’s a hard time of year to be an Urbanist in a cold weather climate. Nothing would make me happier than to be able to get on a scooter and ride worry free to my favorite restaurants or go get groceries on my cargo bike. I’d love to walk around Downtown Rochester without worry of taking yet another icy step that I will feel for weeks. I’d truly enjoy the ability to walk outside without covering every square inch of my body, lumbering through a foot of snow in heavy boots.
I still enjoy taking the bus this time of year. But when running over icy sidewalks and massive snow banks left by snow plows just to get to the nearest stop is the reality, and when waiting 20 minutes in punishing wind is the norm, feeling good about making the sustainable choice is in short supply.
A few weeks ago, my wife and I took a vacation to San Diego. While the temperature wasn’t exactly tropical, the 55-65 degree weather was a delightful departure from what we are used to this time of year. We walked everywhere, took public transit, and watched as people were able to effortlessly take advantage of bike infrastructure in February, a feat that is harrowing this time of year in the Northeast. And while I love where we live, my jealousy for those who are able to live an urbanistic lifestyle without scraping ice off of a windshield at 7:14am in -10 degree windchill was in full force.
In the Northeast, we like to tell ourselves that we are tougher, and can brave whatever Mother Nature throws at us. But the reality is, the older I get, the more that the months of snow and brutal cold wear on me. I want to engage my community, I want to avoid car trips, and I want to be the responsible urban supporter that I encourage others to be. And I do, I still very much do.
But damnit it’s really hard. I’m saying this because I don’t like to admit it. Urbanists in winter climates like to pretend like we are unfettered by the harshest of conditions. But deep down, I’m gonna go ahead and say that we wish our love for city life at any given time was not diminished by the realities of northern winter.
And sure, those of us who brave these climates for as many as 5 months per year advocate for efforts that make it better for everyone. Better plowing and salting of sidewalks, more frequent public transit so waiting in the cold is less of a reality, trails and bike infrastructure that isn’t completely ignored by the city for half the year, and a general appreciation for any surface that isn’t drivable. But even with a progressive Federal government, these pipe dreams are far-fetched at best, to say nothing about what we are about to endure for the next… well, who knows how long.
This post isn’t really meant to be a call to action, but rather an “I see you struggling and I’m there with you.” If you’re like me right now, you’re looking for every silver lining… and that is made that much more difficult when the sun is sparse, the air is frigid and the ability to connect with your community is that much more difficult every day. I see you. Hang in there. It’ll be different soon. I hope.
***I am an urbanist influencer and do not have a formal degree in urban planning. While I am deeply passionate about urban design, trends, issues and topics, I believe in this time of undisciplined media to be honest and transparent regarding my lack of any kind of formal journalism or urban planning education. I still believe in my ability to present my viewpoints on interesting topics, but I fully admit that I have not been trained in the higher-educational rigors of expertise on such perspectives. My goal is to challenge people to think differently, not to be the the cited source of unquestionable truth. This footer will now accompany every Urban Phoenix piece, and I am proud to offer this transparency in a time when opinion is often coveted over rigorously-tested fact.***