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More US cities should try at least creating some car-free zones. It's crazy how in a city of New York's caliber, with great public transport, so much space is
by Rezo 10y ago
More US cities should try at least creating some car-free zones.
It's crazy how in a city of New York's caliber, with great public transport, so much space is taken up by cars for so little gain. The total lack of "walking streets" (streets entirely for pedestrian use for Americans unfamiliar with the concept!) is baffling to me. I think it would be perfectly fine to for example close something like Broadway or even 5th Avenue to cars, the businesses on these streets derive almost no traffic since it's all pass-through. Can you imagine how much better that would be for almost everyone, businesses included, what a destination that would create with a whole avenue packed with people? Close of the streets around squares, instead of creating islands in the middle of traffic you'd get street cafes. Just one, pretty please?
- jackcarter 10y agoChicago tried: https://www.wbez.org/shows/dynamic-range/the-short-sad-life-of-state-streets-pedestrian-mall/f1ebf2b0-2f64-4542-9f18-83123216400d https://www.wbez.org/shows/dynamic-range/the-short-sad-life-...
- travmatt 10y agoI'm currently finishing reading Robert Caro's "The Power Broker", which is about the man who is mostly responsible for New York's choice to embrace the automobile over people, Robert Moses. In short, this choice was extremely conscious and in large part driven by racial and class based segregation.
- mountaineer22 10y agoExcellent book. I highly recommend this, as well.
- tim333 10y agoThey did for a bit of Broadway. Seems successful. Maybe they could try a few more blocks http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Broadway-Plaza-is-Here-to-Stay-84111687.html http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Broadway-Plaza-is-Here-...
- goldbrick 10y agoThere's a number of pedestrian streets in New York. Including sections of Broadway. In squares, with street cafes. Have you been to New York?