NYC bans cars to make way for bikes and PEOPLE!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

"Summer Streets"- a new and brave program had it's first Saturday in New York City on August 9th- and was a HUGE success!

Watching this video brought tears to my eyes:
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/...eets-2008-nyc/
Be prepared to feel really good while watching it.

Next will be expansions of this concept into everyday use and in many more cities.

[MtnBikerChk]

I saw this on the news last night! Wish I had known about it before hand - I might have gone!!

[rij73]

DH and I were there! We rode the whole thing since we often take the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan and go to Central Park anyway.

It was really cool. Of course, it was utter anarchy, so you had to be really careful to not crash what with the pedestrians, runners, skaters, bikers, all running amok!

Also, at the cross streets where you had to stop, some people were a little aggressive about jockeying for a position. That meant that being clipped in on our road bikes, we were passing the same people over and over again. We would stop at the lights in the order we got there, and some of the people we had passed would squeeze between us and stop further ahead. So, we would pass them again and again.

I think if they were to keep it in effect all summer, every summer, that most people would get used to it and not act like that after a while. It was a pretty awesome feeling to just ride down the middle of Park Avenue... especially going up and around Grand Central Station. Whee!

[ginny]

that was SO cool! I actually watched it with my labbies - and we clapped

[rij73]

BTW... It's happening the next two Saturdays as well. Those of you nearby should come down!

[Crankin]

Cool video! They have been doing this on Memorial Drive in Cambridge for years on Sunday morning, from April to October. This year, it was proposed to do it on the Boston side of the river and people went crazy, saying all kinds of negative things. But once some bridge construction gets done, I think it will happen.
But, you will never see me there. I've heard it's crazy.

[berkeley]

Cool video! They have been doing this on Memorial Drive in Cambridge for years on Sunday morning, from April to October. This year, it was proposed to do it on the Boston side of the river and people went crazy, saying all kinds of negative things. But once some bridge construction gets done, I think it will happen.
But, you will never see me there. I've heard it's crazy.

Yep! Cambridge shuts down Mem Drive on Sundays - it's great. It's not total mayhem, but whenever you get walkers, runners, bikers and rollerbladers all in the same street, it's a little chaotic.

[mimitabby]

Seattle plans on closing some streets on a temporary basis too, and boy, they are slamming the mayor all over the place for making the suggestion!

It's wonderful but hard to imagine this is happening in New York though

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Seattle plans on closing some streets on a temporary basis too, and boy, they are slamming the mayor all over the place for making the suggestion!

It's wonderful but hard to imagine this is happening in New York though

I know! Having grown up on the streets of Manhattan, it is just so amazing to me to see this!!!
Do you notice how everyone is grinning from ear to ear in the video?
It makes me so happy to see that gov't actually CAN take positive steps in the right direction. This kind of program will open up many people's eyes to the joys of being active outside and to the concept that things CAN be changed. It can only have wonderful repercussions.
Get people out of their cars and off their couches, take back the neighborhoods and bring the people together!....one small step at a time.

[Andrea]

How cool! A Memphian can only dream (*sigh*)...

[Tri Girl]

THAT IS SO FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!! (it's in all caps because I'm so excited)

That's just the neatest thing EVER! I'm so thrilled that they've done this for the city. We were just there last month, and while seeing NYC for the first time was a bit overwhelming, I found it to be an amazingly beautiful city for it's tremendous size. What a great way for city goers to enjoy the streets that they often avoid as runners, cyclists, rollerbladers and walkers. Kudos to the mayor and all involved. NYC sets a GREAT example for the rest of us.

[silver179951]

wow. it would be great if this idea spreads (successfully) around to other major cities. im so jealous of the people that can go to these things

[7rider]

Wow. And to think I was taking my weekly jaunts down Beach Drive in Washington, D.C. for granted.
Glad to see it in NYC.

[Sgritn]

"Summer Streets"- a new and brave program had it's first Saturday in New York City on August 9th- and was a HUGE success!

Watching this video brought tears to my eyes:
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/...eets-2008-nyc/
Be prepared to feel really good while watching it.

Next will be expansions of this concept into everyday use and in many more cities.

Very nice idea but Mayor Bloomberg still feels that the only borough which needs this is Manhattan. I feel cheated living in Brooklyn because we did not get this wonderful plan in our borough. I do-yes, I do give him credit once in a while when he steps off the 'nanny' platform. I give him credit for increasing the B'klyn street bike paths....it's where I learned to lessen my fear of street riding with cars.