In the first of 3 consecutive Saturday events, the City of New York through the City Department of Transportation, closed down seven miles of city streets to car traffic so that bicyclists, pedestrians and others could take over a swath of city from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park this past Saturday. The pilot program, called Summer Streets was promoted not only by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but also by hip-hop star Jay-Z, a self-proclaimed bicycle enthusiast, musician David Byrne and bicyclist Lance Armstrong.
According to Mayor Bloomberg:
"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," he said. "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." - Environment News Service
Staffed by NYPD and volunteers, activities include:
- Bike helmet fitting and give-away
- Bike riding lessons by Bike New York
- Escorted bike rides with Transportation Alternatives, New York City's bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group
- Free fitness classes
- Bicycle repair provided by Bicycle Habitat
- Dance classes and performances
- Percussion classes
- Bicycle racing
- Running groups led by New York Road Runners
- Kids activities like hopscotch, 4 square and sidewalk chalk
- Photo contest
- Bike rentals
- Bike sharing provided by Bike and Roll
- Bicycle safety classes presented by Bike New York and the 5 Boro Bike Club
The street closures, along Lafayette Street, 4th Avenue, Park Avenue and 72nd Street take place from 7 am to 1 pm. The main stage is at 24th street and there are rest stops at Spring, 24th and 51st streets with activities at each.
According to WNYC, after the first Summer Streets Saturday, the city is calling it a success so far:
REPORTER: Judging by the turnout yesterday, Summer Streets is likely to get even bigger. Janette Sadik-Khan is the city commissioner of Transportation.
SADIK-KHAN: I talked to the mayor about if this is successful, and it appears to be, that down the line we would look at potentially extending the hours, extending the days, and looking at different locations and different boroughs. So, stay tuned. - WNYC
According to the New York Times, not everyone was thrilled. While some retailers along the route reported increased sales, particularly compared to the usual New York summer weekend when city dwellers seem to all vacate the borough, others, like parking garages along the route, suffered.
Mayor Bloomberg seems committed to giving this a chance to work, though:
Bloomberg, however, said in June that he hoped the experiment "will become as much a part of the New York experience as strolling the Coney Island boardwalk, participating in the five-borough bike tour, or listening to the Philharmonic in the park." - AP
