Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

City Crowdsourcing Tool Could Help Cyclists During Snowy Commutes

The city's snow response map, a live version of which is available here. The green triangles represent clear streets and the blue squares unplowed streets.
The city's snow response map, a live version of which is available here. The green triangles represent clear streets and the blue squares unplowed streets.

The weather's given New York City a lot of opportunities to experiment with new responses to snow in the wake of the post-Christmas blizzard.

One potentially exciting new tool is a city attempt to crowdsource information about which streets are and aren't clear of snow and ice. It could be a good resource for cyclists to share information about which bike lanes are clear and which remain unusable.

For cyclists, the site isn't perfect. There's no way to note whether park roads and greenways are plowed, only streets. Even so, for yesterday's snow and future storms, it could turn out to be a useful platform for gathering and distributing info.

According to the city's website, the snow conditions map isn't intended for residents to inform the city of unplowed streets; use 311 for that. Rather, it's a central site for people to warn others about where they can travel.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Two More Staffers Join the Growing Streetsblog Newsroom!

Meet Austin C. Jefferson and J.K. Trotter! And read about our big plans for local news.

November 11, 2025

How Cheap Technology Could Fix New York’s E-Bike Enforcement Mess

Internet-connected technology could eliminate commercial e-bike crashes and battery fires.

November 11, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Dean Joins the Team

Mayor-elect Mamdani made his first two hires as the Daily News attacked his free buses platform. Plus more news.

November 11, 2025

The False ‘Trolley Problem’ At the Heart of the Autonomous Vehicle Debate

Waymo said it has a "plan" for when one of the company's cars kills someone. But we should be planning for a world when no car kills anyone — autonomous or not.

November 11, 2025

Bad Data Alert: Council Tears Apart DOT Daylighting Study

The internal review, obtained by Streetsblog, dismantles DOT's fear-mongering.

November 10, 2025

Former DOT Boss: Here’s What Mayor Mamdani Needs as Transportation Commish

Bottom line: The next commissioner needs to be willing to move aside staffers who are unwilling to be change-agents and to empower all the bright (often young) players who embrace the future.

November 10, 2025
See all posts