Skip to content

Sneckdowns: Taking the World by Storm

The #sneckdown is now a phenomenon, with nature's traffic-calming gaining international media coverage and photos popping up from across the U.S. and Canada.
Image: Clarence Eckerson/BBC
Image: Clarence Eckerson/BBC

The #sneckdown is now a phenomenon, with nature’s traffic-calming gaining international media coverage and photos popping up from across the U.S. and Canada.

“The snow is almost like nature’s tracing paper,” Streetfilms’ Clarence Eckerson told the BBC. “It’s free. You don’t have to do a crazy expensive traffic calming study. It provides a visual cue into how people behave.”

The sneckdown dates back to at least 2001, when Transportation Alternatives wrote: “[T]he next time someone tells you that you can’t have a neckdown on that corner or this corner because there’s not enough room, show them what happens every year when it snows.”

Clarence first documented “naturally occurring neckdowns” for Streetfilms in 2006. Seven years later, Streetsblog founding editor Aaron Naparstek coined the hashtag, and the rest is history.

Here are pics from yesterday’s storm. Keep ’em coming.

Seventh Avenue and 36th Street. Photo: ##https://twitter.com/Tri_State/status/425706540423991297##@Tri_State##
Seventh Avenue and 36th Street. Photo: ##https://twitter.com/Tri_State/status/425706540423991297##@Tri_State##
The Bowery. Photo: ##https://twitter.com/christamaeorth/status/425742294177034240##@christamaeorth##
The Bowery. Photo: ##https://twitter.com/christamaeorth/status/425742294177034240##@christamaeorth##
181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard. Photo: ##https://twitter.com/UptownCurrent/status/425718871765823488##@UptownCurrent##
181st Street and Cabrini Boulevard. Photo: ##https://twitter.com/UptownCurrent/status/425718871765823488##@UptownCurrent##
Broadway at 111th Street. Photo: ##https://twitter.com/glenn_mcan/status/426002518418939905##@glenn_mcan##
Broadway at 111th Street. Photo: ##https://twitter.com/glenn_mcan/status/426002518418939905##@glenn_mcan##
Photo of Brad Aaron
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York'’s dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

Read More:

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog New York City

Tree-Mendous: City Officials Must Do More To Create Shady Conditions As Temps Soar

June 18, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines: Nothing But Knicks Edition

June 18, 2026

The Dream: NYPD Says It Will Tow Away Every Car South of Canal at 7 PM Tonight For Knicks Parade

June 17, 2026

‘Pay-to-Play’ Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer Wants to Kill Citizen Idling Enforcement That Protects NYC Air

June 17, 2026

City Budget Needs $20M For School Streets: Advocates

June 17, 2026
See all posts