Video: People Loving Car-Free Broadway, Defying Post's Peyser

On Wednesday, frothing New York Post demagogue Andrea Peyser dropped her instant-classic diatribe against the new car-free pedestrian plazas on Broadway, deriding those European tourists who flocked to the open space while finding solidarity with... one homeless man. Joe Miller, who Peyser says "carried his earthly possessions in plastic bags" also shares the columnist's hatred for any human challenge to the automobile's supremacy: "It's terrible. I live in the streets. People smoke in the shelters! I can't stand it."

Opinions On A Car-Free Times Square from ANIMALnewyork.com on Vimeo.

Anyway, the rant inspired Animal NY to "hit the streets to speak to the people, the ones sitting in all that 'cheapo furniture' the philippic pundit railed against. As it turns out, the locals love it and the tourists are in heaven, despite being forced to sit in temporary plastic chairs like plebeians." Indeed, as this funny video shows, many New Yorkers are relishing the opportunity to take in Times Square in this new (temporary?) autonomous zone. One lounger even predicts: "It's inevitable for all this to be shut down." Unfortunately, Peyser is sure to shrug off the glowing reviews because one comes from a European—a Frenchman, no less, who actually says such a change would never happen in Paris!

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By John Del Signore in News on May 29, 2009 1:32 PM

Comments [rss]

Kevin Walsh

I have no idea why anyone sits outside in Manhattan, whether it be Times Square or outdoor restaurant seating. The noise, the smells, the bums. Give me indoors with AC every time.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Liam

So you refuse to ride a bike in the city (too scary), and you're scared of noise and smells? I like indoor AC too, but it sounds like you need to get out more often.

resa

I think Times Square is still an armpit. I'm glad they closed it to traffic but it still smells like pee in front of the Hyatt. Why does anyone want to sit there?

JenChungsBaby

What about Herald Square? Wasn't that closed too?

Think2wice

So far Herald Square is the red-headed-Wednesday's-stepchild of this program. Lots of walking room for sure, but sparse crowds, little seating or amusements to attract them, and almost no promotion or publicity from the media. The DOT is dropping the ball on the other half of "Green Light" and it better not wait until Holiday shopping season to draw crowds.

fleshtone

I love how he asks the black couple how they like "chillin" in times square.

thefacts

It's official! Some unknown blog supports the closing of the Great White Way.

Rejoice!

whitecastlerock

Yeah this is so fucking rad! Whoo hoo. A car free part of the Big Apple-golly gee New York is so hip and progressive

Liam

And all the people they asked about it

thefacts

All three?

Wow, I'm impressed at the journalistic integrity and standards of animal.com!

Liam

More than three, nobody cares if you're impressed.

thefacts

And no one cares that you can count up to four.

Liam

Chances are, nobody gives a shit about what either of us say on here. Except us. You and me baby. You and me.

thefacts

At this point, it is just you.

SP

And yet, here you are.

EricRoberts

disappointing interviewer - he never deviates from his line of questions.

Billiamsburg

wtf is wrong with conservatives? When did 'driving' become a conservative position and 'walking' a sign of liberalism run amok? Pathetic.

JenChungsBaby

Because less driving = fewer opportunities to chant "Drill Baby Drill."

pudeljung

in paris they already HAVE done this - much of Les Halles is an auto-free tourist plaza.

they don't have a times square, so the comparison is moronic