I think the way snowy conditions are dealt with in different towns and cities depends on how much of this weather they get and the budgets available for the clean up. A city like Boston copes very efficiently with a snow storm so life doesnt slow down for very long. But when my daughter lived in Montreal which also gets a lot of snow every year she felt like the city was very slow to clear the sidewalks and streets. ( No slight on Montreal I think its a beautiful city with some ridiculously good food.)