Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Car-Free Streets

Times Square BID Leader on the Art of Street Reclamation

By Matthew Roth | Oct 29, 2009 | No Comments

This used to be the scene of gridlocked traffic. Photo: berk2804 Seven years ago, when Tim Tompkins took over as president of the Times Square Alliance, one of New York’s largest BIDs, security and cleanliness were the top concerns. Despite incessant traffic and "pedlock," few decision-makers were focused, at first, on the vision of Times […]

Love Broadway’s Car-Free Spaces? Take the DOT Survey

By Brad Aaron | Oct 7, 2009 | 6 Comments

Tell DOT you prefer the safer, saner Times Square. Photo: nickdigital/Flickr DOT is gathering feedback on its "Green Light for Midtown" projects, which include new car-free spaces on Broadway at Times Square and Herald Square, along with new bike infrastructure near Columbus Circle. If you weren’t able to attend the recent public input sessions, the […]

AAA Plunges Dagger in the Heart of the New Times Square

By Ben Fried | Sep 25, 2009 | 28 Comments

In a stinging rebuke to New York City’s street safety methods, the latest issue of Car and Travel, a.k.a. AAA New York magazine, serves up a razor-sharp critique of Broadway’s new pedestrian plazas: Newly digitized AAA mag: crazy for cars, mad about pedestrian streets. The “test project,” now four months old, has been criticized by […]

Streetfilms: San Francisco’s Foggy Sunday Streets 2009

By Ben Fried | Sep 8, 2009 | 1 Comment

For many American cities, 2009 marks the second time around for car-free events modeled after Bogotá’s Ciclovía. In San Francisco, like New York, last year’s innovation is this year’s tradition, as you’ll see in this Streetfilm from John Hamilton: Despite a blanket of fog, the last San Francisco Sunday Streets of 2009 was, from all […]

Thompson, Avella Pledge to Dump Sadik-Khan If Elected

By Ben Fried | Aug 27, 2009 | 64 Comments

Tony Avella and Bill Thompson. Photo: Daily News. I didn’t get to watch last night’s Democratic mayoral debate between Bill Thompson and Tony Avella, so I missed the high drama that ensued when the candidates were asked if they’ll retain Janette Sadik-Khan as transportation commissioner. Good thing Brian Lehrer played excerpts on his show this […]

Even Fox News Digs Summer Streets

By Brad Aaron | Aug 24, 2009 | 7 Comments

How much of a non-event was this year’s Summer Streets in terms of media critique? In this Fox News piece, via Crooks and Liars, the story isn’t traffic tie-ups or wacky spandex-clad elitists or howling business owners, but the fact that more everyday New Yorkers are taking to the streets on two wheels. Summer Streets, […]

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