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The DOT's $700,000 transformation of a seven block stretch of Broadway into a pedestrian esplanade with tables, chairs and planters is complete, and the Times has taken the anxious pulse of local workers lounging on their lunchbreaks. The consensus? A nice gesture, but it's only a matter of time before a cab swerves into the tables and turns the urban oasis into a scene of unspeakable carnage. Some choice observations from the men and women on the street:
- Robert Stribley, information architect: “You look around and expect a truck to veer off and plow into you at any moment. It’s not Bryant Park. You’ve got exhaust coming at you. But it’s kind of cool.”
- Vicki Lee, clothing designer: “You hear so many accidents of the cars going out of control and all they have here is plastic pots,” she said. But she dug into her salad and added, “We’re going to roll the dice and eat lunch here today.”
- Karis Durmer, Condé Nast employee: “It’s amazing how a few plants can make you feel removed from all that [noise and traffic].” At one point her conversation was interrupted when the siren of a passing fire truck drowned out her words. “They transport you to a calmer place.”
A section of Broadway between 42nd Street and 35th street was narrowed to two lanes for the esplanade, which now separates traffic from a bike lane. DOT Janette Sadik-Khan has predicted that the change will actually ease traffic as drivers eschew that tighter stretch of Broadway for the avenues.
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I'm looking at these photos and wondering if it would have been better to make the plaza raised. But many out-of-control cars do jump curbs, so I don't know.
Yeah, curbs still don't deter cars. It would look nice, but imagine how much concrete would have to be poured for that. It would have cost so much more than the $700,000 the DOT spent.
I hope there are more convesions like this in the city.
some of those big boulders that they used down at madison square and a lot more planters would help.
There's probably some unused subway tracks that can be utilized for this kind of thing.
Thanks, but no thanks. Looks terrifying.
It's a really nice idea. I won't sit down and have lunch there because this particular place looks really vunerable. The space they created where 9th avenue meets 14th street is seriously great though. You don't feel like you're in the middle of the street at all.
I applaud more pedestrianizing in this city, but I don't feel this is very safe.
Also, I see pedestrians walking in the bike lane, which is a great way to get injured or start a fight with a courier. Perhaps there should be more barriers, like some posts either side of the bike lane, so people get the idea.
This is just asinine. Can we just focus on rebuilding downtown already?
Wonder if there's a list somewhere of all the streets in the city that have spots like this?
Good idea to add more seating for pedestrians throughout the city. Bad idea to add it in the middle of traffic- come on, look at that picture. Anyone with half a brain can see that you're at risk of getting hit by a car.
It still looks like they're eating in the middle of the street. The only way to make it look like a real esplandade is to grade the street and make it look like sidewalk. Also put up some barriers.
What a waste of money. Who would want to eat in a cloud of carsmoke anyway?
Sometimes you just have to keep streets as streets. No one demands to picnic on the west side highway do they?
I noticed the same thing about the bike lane. If you put a bike lane anywhere where pedestrians feel comfortable walking on it, it's usually useless. The bike path on the East Side is useless for the same reason -- pedestrians, skaters, strollers, and so on. They might as well remove the one that's shown in the picture.
Bicyclists are more of a menace than cars in my experience. I've had more than a few of the self-righteous bastards come zooming the wrong down the street and nearly wipe me out.
This is right outside my office, and although it feels a little makeshift, it is actually quite pleasant. There is actually very little traffic most of the day, so it is nice to sit out for a coffee break, but I would still head to Bryant Park if I wanted to eat lunch.
They did this on State Street in Chicago in the late 70s through the mid 80s, when they finally realized it was very bad idea. What was once a vibrant street turned into a no mans land after sundown. Retailers lost alot of business as well. Today, the pedestrian mall is gone and no one misses it. Too bad New York's mayor didn't do his homework.
Bicyclists are certainly going to be a menace if they try to use "bike lanes" full of pedestrians. At least on the regular old streets the cars and trucks clear them away.
The city seems to be under some illusion that painting a lane on the street and saying it's for bicycles impresses anybody.
the pedestrian mall fad of the 70s was very different than now. then, suburbs were booming and people fled the cities. now, cities are experiencing a renaissance. the mayor has done his homework, looking at steps taken by cities like London, Paris, and Bogota.
Anyway, I just rode down this bike lane. It's rough - peds all over the place. Can't say I blame them, it's a design flaw.
Too bad, because I really like the concept.
The DOT has had a recent history of trying things as pilots. Hopefully they'll realize that a bike lane bordered by two pedestrian spaces is not a good design.
The problem with bike lanes is that bicyclists don't pay attention to pedestrians and don't follow the rules for traffic. Bikers ride through red lights, weave through traffic, and disregard pedestrians crossing streets. Bikers are constantly getting hit by SUVs and trucks whereever they have these bike lanes. It doesn't work in a city this big. Try Des Moines.
This place just looks like a death sentence. Who could comfortable eat here?
Raised or not, I be thinking if this was my time to go. Doesn't look fun.
bogus...
Wouldn't it have made more sense to put the bike lane next to traffic and moved the esplanade over? This seems like a really strange way to set things up.
Also, NYC artist, you can say the same things about pedestrians. Get off your high horse.
I guess what I'm trying to say is: bullshit.
The esplanade area near the Flatiron building is nice in principle, but in practice, it’s seriously ugly. One of the problems is that when the plants are watered, they leak out muddy water that completely stains the rest of the path, making it look totally unprofessional and gross (the stain doesn’t go away when the water dries). It would have been WAY better if they’d filled the area with a raised concrete walkway, similar to the sidewalk. I think they should have lost some of the esplanades in insanely busy traffic areas, which don’t seem all that inviting anyway, and instead invested a raised platform in those areas that are much more touristy. I know New York City is on a budget, but these things scream “cheap.”
I've had more than a few of the self-righteous bastards come zooming the wrong down the street and nearly wipe me out.
I only see one self-righteous bastard, and he's not on a bike. I notice you didn't write anything about those pedestrians not just walking in the clearly marked bike lane, but completely hogging it. That's because you don't really give a damn about anybody breaking laws, you just have a bug up your butt about bikes.
The whole thing looks very surreal. But I think the photos are stages as a publicity shot. Nobody has any shopping bags. Who doesn't have shopping bags in NY? And there are no kids. Wait'll little Johnny from Idaho decides to run into the street while Mom & Dad are having coffee.
The only thing needed to complete this freaky outdoor living room is carpeting. This just has no future. streets are for moving objects, not al fresco dining.
[26] Staged? Why don't you ask Zodak himself? He comments quite often here on Gothamist.
"The problem with bike lanes is that bicyclists don't pay attention to pedestrians and don't follow the rules for traffic."
NYCArtist: Explain to me why someone riding in a bike lane should be looking out for pedestrians. Also, I'm assuming, in your world, pedestrians never jaywalk or cross when the light is still red?
to all you self righteous pedestrians angry at cyclists for running reds, are you actually going to claim to be a new yorker who doesn't jaywalk across the avenues? gimme a break.
cyclists are in a grey zone between pedestrians and cars, so they can pick and choose which rules to obey. they ride in the traffic lane like cars but run reds like pedestrians. get it? good.
now, look at the pictures in this post.... people walking in that tiny bike lane! it is appaling cyclists aren't making sure not to hit people walking in bike lanes. how rude! you guys are such jokers.
cyclists are in a grey zone between pedestrians and cars, so they can pick and choose which rules to obey.
Actually not. According to federal and state law, bikes are vehicles. That's why it's illegal to ride them on the sidewalks; when was the last time you were allowed to drive a car on the sidewalks? When operated on the streets, we are supposed to obey all traffic laws.
^ Exactly. And this is why pedestrians need to regard bikes as they would any moving vehicle. I mean how dumb is it for people to just walk around as if no one would ever hit them?
Spirit, it's city laws that restricts bikes on sidewalks. in l.a. for instance one is allowed to ride on the sidewalk. nevertheless, laws aside, in all reality and bike is not a vehicle in the same ways a car is and i find it hard to believe you actually think so. a 6 year old in a little bike is not a car. neither is the 75 year old man on a rusty schwinn. or maybe you just mean the "hipsters on fixies" or whatever. nevertheless, there is a grey zone that exists, whether the laws support that or not.
Staged? No, I'm one of the folks quoted in the article and I can tell you it's not staged. That block's just South of the center of Times Square where tourists (who have children and shopping bags) are more likely to throng. The interviews were conducted around 40th, 41st where the people are more likely to be corporate employees (childless, sans shopping accessories) stepping out for a bagel. As I was.