The day after the biggest snowstorm in years left New Yorkers frustrated as they struggled to get to work and school on time. Buses and trains were unbearably slow and delayed. Some students reported waiting up to an hour for the bus to come, and even if it did come, the bus was too full for anyone to enter.
Students who walked didn’t fare much better. Because sidewalks and streets were covered in snow and ice, they had to walk on the streets while cars tried to navigate the slippery surfaces.
Jan. 27, the first day after the storm, and the days after, proved a tough-go for school staff as well.
“Yesterday and today I got stuck in the snow and ice which made me irritated,” Shavon Evelyn, the 10th grade guidance counselor, said. “I expected lots of snow from the forecast; it was very hard to clean it up. It took me about an hour to navigate around,” she said.
Because the snow hadn’t been cleared, the commutes proved extra slow, causing people to be late or just give up and stay home.
Attendance on Tuesday, the day after the storm, was very low, as many students couldn’t make it to school, or simply refused to travel in the snowy conditions. Angelina Torres, a 12th grader said, “I didn’t even bother coming to school on Tuesday. The snow was everywhere, it was ridiculous.”
Jontay Velez, an 11th grader, shared similar thoughts when he stepped outside on Tuesday. “I wanted to go back home as soon as I stepped outside. I saw mad snow everywhere,” he said.
Trista Norton, a ninth grade biology teacher, who travels from Westchester County to the Bronx, woke up early yet still arrived late for school. She’s never late, so being late was rough for her.
However, she appreciates the work the city has done to try to clear the roads. “I think the Department of Sanitation is doing their job but nothing much for parking, can’t blame them,” she said. “The crosswalks are terrible; they should’ve done a better job at it.”
Jennifer Lippold, a teacher and tech expert, travels from Pennsylvania to the Bronx. “I live in Pennsylvania so I expected a lot of snow but it was more than I expected, it was more than 20 inches. The earlier I leave my house, the earlier I get here. Going home sucks, it takes me about an hour or more. Transportation can be difficult in this weather,” she said.
When it comes to sanitation, she appreciates the effort. “In New York, the Department of Sanitation does the best they can with the equipment provided. But there should be some more advances to get rid of the snow instead of shoveling off,” she said.
A week after the storm, the commute for some is still a struggle. The snow has turned to hard ice, making it challenging for students to cross streets and navigate outside. Taking public transportation has gotten easier but things are still slow and most likely will be until the big thaw comes.
Alanna Clarke, Jocellyn Velez. Nanda Mohammed and Lathania Williams contributed to this story.
