Community Corner
ICYMI: Car Free NYC To Expand In Washington Heights, Midtown This Year
Long stretches of Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue will become pedestrian wonderlands this Earth Day.
NEW YORK, NY — This Earth Day — Saturday, April 22 — Car Free NYC is returning to the streets of New York, and it's getting bigger. The event, which promotes safe streets and encourages New Yorkers to use public transportation, walk or bike instead of driving, will turn long stretches of Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue into pedestrian wonderlands.
"Car Free NYC is a great idea that will get even bigger this year, as we remove the rumble of cars and trucks from long stretches of Broadway in Midtown and St. Nicholas Avenue in Washington Heights," Department Of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said in a statement.
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On Earth Day, vehicle traffic will be shut down on Broadway between Union Square and Times Square and on St. Nicholas Avenue between West 181st and 190th streets, according to a Department of Transportation announcement. The car-free sections of both streets will be home to programming such as fitness and dance classes, historical walking tours, environmental workshops and arts and crafts, according to the DOT.
If you're not interested in the activities, the freed-up streets will be the perfect place to enjoy a hassle-free weekend stroll. Early weather forecasts predict that April 22 will be cloudy with a high temperature of 61 degrees.
Car Free NYC was launched in 2016 by a coalition of elected officials, companies, advocacy groups and New York institutions. Leading the charge was City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, chair of the council's transportation committee.
"Reducing car usage in our city can transform so much. It can help us to take advantage of space currently used for parking lots and gas stations; it can reduce traffic fatalities and injuries; it can make our city healthier and more breathable; and it can bring a newfound sense of calm to our bustling metropolis," Rodriguez said in a statement.
Citi Bike will partner with Car Free NYC to provide free one-day passes on Saturday, April 22.
Photo by squirrel83 via Flickr/Creative Commons
