New York City to Ban Cars for 3 Days in August

In order to make the city more pedestrian and cyclist friendly, New York City Mayor Bloomberg is banning cars from certain streets for a few hours, and for a few days, in August. Modeled after similar programs in London and Paris, “Summer Streets” will be held on August 9, 16, and 23.

The car-less route runs along Park Avenue. This famous street is fitting because the point of the plan, according to the executive director of Transportation Alternatives, Paul Steely White, is to make the streets “more like parks than thoroughfares.” There will be health and fitness classes along the route as well as places to rent bicycles. Lance Armstrong was even on hand to announce plans for “Summer Streets” with Mayor Bloomberg.

White said, in the article in the New York Times…

“Everyone around the world knows about Park Avenue as one of New York City’s most storied thoroughfares, and to turn that over to pedestrians and cyclists, even though it’s just for three consecutive Saturdays, I think that sends a very powerful message that the tide is turning so that bicyclists and pedestrians are on at least an equal footing with drivers.”

I think it sounds like a great idea. New York City cyclists and pedestrians have to fight incredible amounts of traffic on a daily basis. To give them Park Avenue for a few days in the summer, sans cars, is really cool. Maybe it will even convince people to leave their cars at home and ride or walk more.

Not everybody thinks it’s a great idea, though. Some businesses along the route are upset. In response to those people, Bloomberg had this to say…

“Look, there will be minor inconveniences,” he said. “There’s minor inconveniences when it rains, when you have snow, inconveniences when it’s hot, when it’s cold, inconveniences when there are people on the streets, when there’s not.”

He’s right on, in my book. Our society has become so addicted to convenience that it’s easy to lose sight of the real price we pay for it. I hope the car-less street days are a huge hit in the city - my guess is they will be.