It's really happening: Workers are getting ready to transform Broadway traffic lanes into a pedestrian oasis as part of the DOT's plan to ban cars from part of the city's main stem. Mayor Bloomberg and other officials announced the radical move back in February; it involves rerouting vehicular traffic from part of Broadway to Seventh Avenue, a move that they say will improve traffic flow because Broadway itself creates congestion as it cuts southeast across the avenues. Pedestrian plazas with tables and chairs, similar to the new "Broadway Boulevard," will entirely replace motor vehicles on Broadway between 42nd and 47th streets and from 32nd to 35th streets. According to 1010 WINS, work will begin Memorial day weekend, and the transformation will include bike lanes in both sections. According to the DOT, the changes, which include widening Seventh Avenue with another traffic lane, are an "experiment" that will last through the end of the year but may become permanent.
Times Square (Steve Sandberg/1010 WINS)
homeless guy took a dump between cars on the 7 train between Queens & Manhattan
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Not for nothing, but is anyone seeing if any of these ideas actually work? That seating/margin area running down Broadway in Times Square seems like a bit of a hell hole and I would be afraid to sit there with all the traffic. Not to mention all the havoc the new bike lanes are causing around town.
It's not that it isn't great to have more pedestrian space, but this doesn't seem like the smartest plan.
My theory is that since Bloomie's plan to do congestion pricing didn't work, now he's trying to make it so annoying to drive in the city that people will leave their cars at home.
Of course, I agree there should be fewer cars. I don't agree that this plan will actually achieve that goal.
You make it sound so subversive. The mayor has been pretty open that he is working to "reduce congestion" in New York City. What is congestion? It's not some abstract circumstance. It's cars. Bloomberg is trying to reduce the number or cars in the city. Closing roads is even more effective than pricing at achieving that end.
This sounds like a really bad idea. There definitely needs to be less cars in Manhattan, but I don't know if this is the way to do it.
I guess we'll find out.
Somehow I think NYC drivers will find a way to survive and still get around town.
it's a very, very expensive experiment.
I personally would never have the desire to sit at a table in the middle of times square...i avoid times sq as if it were swine flu.
But I agree there should be less cars in the city but they could've design this differently.
Nicemarmot you make a good point: I wouldn't put that past Bloomeister to do something so drastic to annoy the hell out of NYers....not the first time!
there are few things more absurd in this city than allowing people to drive their cars through the middle of Times Square as pedestrians crowd onto the sidewalks. Congestion and transportation infrastructure are the most important issues facing this city and Bloomberg has done more than any other mayor. If he keeps it up, I may cast my first republican vote ever....
I could use a nice outdoor table and chairs set. I'll have to go check this out!
Welcome to Portland.
Welcome to 20th century urban planning. New York is a bit late to the party.
Is that supposed to be a bad thing, Mr. "Facts"? Portland has consistently won accolades from many sources around the world as one of the most livable and sustainable cities. Surely, they have fewer miserable wretches like you.
This is a step in the right direction: return NYC to the pedestrians. Here's what Park Avenue looked like in 1922: http://www.naparstek.com/uploaded_images/ParkAvePre1922-758615.jpg
i think this is brilliant. it will inspire so many more 'back when NY was NY' rants!
because back when NY was NY, it still wasn't the NY it was before when it was NY. and even that NY wasn't NY. it was New Amsterdam. now THAT was a CITY!
For all I know, NYC sucked in 1922. But less streets nnd more public space sounds great to me.
This is still an awful idea; saw them working the other night and I was disgusted watching them lay out the barriers. Bloomberg hasn't had a good idea in at least 5 years.
Banning cars from the center of New York is a great idea. Anyone who's seen carless town centers in Europe can attest to it.
Work has already started. Last week they repaved Broadway south of 57th, and this week they began installing pedestrian islands and turning lanes, closing the left two lanes completely, adding signs encouraging people to turn move over to 7th ASAP.
You can see pictures here : http://tr.im/lrxv
What I don't like about it is that it drastically alter the look of the city. This plan should also have a negative impact on emergency vehicles.
I'm all for this as long is it doesn't turn into a bike highway the way Summer Streets did last year on Park Avenue.
Good point. I'm wondering why they don't just build up the sidewalk to cover the street rather than just paint the street. It would look better and feel safer and would discourage cyclists from the pedestrian areas. So far this seems like it will just look God awful.
Because this is an experiment. If if fails, it would be a lot cheaper and faster to remove some paint than to have to jackhammer out new concrete and put asphalt back in again.
Let's ban cars from Manhattan altogether.