August 8, 2008
Tomorrow is the First Summer Streets Saturday!
Starting tomorrow, seven miles of streets in Manhattan will be closed to vehicular traffic between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. for three Saturdays. In the place of cars and trucks, the city is letting people stroll or bike (there's bike sharing)--or take part in many organized activities, like tai-chi, salsa dancing and hopscotch. The program, Summer Streets, will be open from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park along Lafayette Street, 4th Avenue, Park Avenue and 72nd Street.
Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday, "We're going to embark on a grand experiment that could dramatically alter the way we use and look at the streets of New York. Streets that are normally tied up with cars and trucks will be turned over to the public - so that we can experience this city as never before. If the program works, we'll strongly consider doing it again; maybe we'll try it in other parts of the city. If it doesn't work, we won't, but we can't be afraid to find out." One concern is that businesses will suffer; supporters of the program urge people to frequent the establishments along the Summer Streets corridor.
If you're taking part, you can send us info at tips(at)gothamist(dot)com and you can share your Flickr photos by tagging them "gothamist." More information at the Department of Transportation and Transportation Alternatives, and for reference, Summer Streets was partly inspired by Bogota's Ciclovia, where 70 miles of the city are closed every week.
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This a practice that Bogota capital of Colombia has had for the past 15 years. Catching up to good initiatives is always good!
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I'm sure the wanna-be Lance Armstrongs will ruin it by crazed bicycling down the streets at 50 mph and putting everybody else in jeopardy.
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Maybe it's just me, but Jay-Z doesn't seem to quite pull off the dapper three-piece suit look. I was going to compare him to a "-----in a suit" but didn't wanted to be censored...
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I was not a fan of Bloomy's congestion pricing, but I do like this idea.
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Yeah Sweatyelectric... him or his stupid speed demon tools on Hudson River Park with their matching little outfits and they act like they own the entire path. Argh! Let's hope they don't show up tomorrow on Park and make total jackasses of themselves. If you want to speed go somewhere where there isn't potential of hurting other people and let us enjoy a leisurely ride.
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Yeah Sweatyelectric... him or his stupid speed demon tools on Hudson River Park with their matching little outfits and they act like they own the entire path. Argh! Let's hope they don't show up tomorrow on Park and make total jackasses of themselves. If you want to speed go somewhere where there isn't potential of hurting other people and let us enjoy a leisurely ride.
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It's going to be a nice cool and not humid morning as well tomorrow, which should bring out more people
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"One concern is that businesses will suffer..."
Another concern is that New Yorkers will wake up when they normally do on a Saturday and find the whole thing over already. C'mon, who in his or her right mind gets up at 7 on a Saturday morning? And how full are the closed streets anyway at that time of day. Love the idea, but next time think a bit more about the timing...
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"One concern is that businesses will suffer..."
Another concern is that New Yorkers will wake up when they normally do on a Saturday and find the whole thing over already. C'mon, who in his or her right mind gets up at 7 on a Saturday morning? And how full are the closed streets anyway at that time of day? Love the idea, but next time think a bit more about the timing...
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I'll be at the pro-auto event in Watkins Glen, NY thank you.
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Bloomie got a gangsta-pose in that picture! LOL
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Lame gimmick. Mayor Moneybags would love to make Manhattan a gated community with limited vehicle access.
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You know Bloomberg has a plan to sell NYC streets to private interests. Right?
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thank you #9!!!!
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Why is New York the world class city that always goes just half way? Closing a few hot asphalt streets to cars for six hours on three Saturdays when most of us are still having breakfast? In Paris, they are doing it right with Paris Plage. They close a long part of the highway next to the Seine for all of August, for 24 hours a day and offer a lively atmosphere filled with music, dancing, cafes, a swimming pool and games. Right next to the Seine, they install tons of sand and palm trees to create a St. Tropez atmosphere that's truly creative.
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This was pretty fun, I went out at 9am went up and down twice and grabbed a free helmet on the way home. I live a block over on Lexington and I gotta say that I've never seen it so crowded before, but it's not all that bad really, it's just never that crowded at all in the 20's.
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I'm highly amused that some businesses think they will suffer from a lack of people in cars driving by and an increase in people walking and jogging by.
Find me one business who relies on people cruising down Park Avenue in their cars who say, "ooh, look at that! Let's pull over and shop THERE!"
Needless to say, the event was awesome, and I can't wait to go out again the next two Saturdays!
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#3, I agree that his suit choices are not very flattering. I actually think that there are two reasons for this:
a) He has very large facial features that one might compare to a dromedary, which makes him look a bit cartoonish. Can't do much about that except perhaps choose some eyeglasses with frames that take away from the features. Perhaps some horn-rimmed glasses would help.
b) His suit selection - cut and color scheme, is unfortunate here. I understand the lighter colors to go with the Summer event. Unfortunately, those colors don't really suit his complexion. Moreover, the cut of the suit is too boxy and the lapels are too big. He shouldn't go with the 3-piece look, it's true.