NYC Hits Gas On Its Largest 'Car-Free Earth Day'

NEW YORK CITY — Car-free or want-to-be-car-free New Yorkers — this day's for you.

The city will throw its largest "Car-Free Earth Day" on April 23, officials announced.

More than 100 open streets, 22 plazas and 1,000 miles of bike paths will explode in celebrations ranging from music, dance, art and more.

“Car-Free Earth Day is a growing tradition that allows New York City’s car-free streets to come alive," said Ydanis Rodriguez, commissioner for the Department of Transportation, in a statement. "The last two years – of Open Streets, Open Restaurants, the surge in cycling and so much more -- have only made us appreciate even more how much better we must treat Mother Earth -- and a day without cars allows us to envision a more sustainable world for more than just one day.”

Earth Day is actually globally observed on April 22, as officials noted, but don't let that take away from the celebrations.

This is the fifth time New York City marked a "Car-Free Earth Day" and the first since the coronavirus struck. Even though the last event was 2019, the pandemic prompted a major shift in how New Yorkers view and use their street spaces.

Open Streets and Open Restaurants became popular features on the city's roadways, and more New Yorkers than ever took up bicycling.

Events this year will largely use the city's reshaped infrastructure and officially kick off 2022's Open Streets and Public Space Programming season.

Here's a listing of events, as detailed by the Department of Transportation:

Manhattan

Lower East Side** — Route: Avenue B (Open Street), East 6 Street to East 14 Street
Open Street Active Hours (8:00am – 8:00pm)
Programming Highlights (11:00am – 5:00pm):

• Activities with Loisaida, FABnyc East Village Community Coalition, The Bio Bus, Materials for the Arts, The Horticultural Society of New York, Brooklyn Black Cowboys, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and DOT Safety Education
• Performances by Batala New York, Drag Queen Story Hour, Marching Cobras, and Teresa Fellion Dance

Midtown — Route: Broadway, East 17 Street to West 42 Street
Programming Highlights (11:00am – 5:00pm):

• Family-friendly fitness with Zing! and Future of NYC’s EV fleet display with the DCAS Office of Fleet Management in Broadway Boulevard Plaza at 40 Street and activities with the Times Square Alliance in Times Square Plaza at 42 Street
• Family-friendly games and activities at 25 - 27 Streets with the Flatiron BID, as well as a bike ride and trivia with The Brown Bike Girl, and workshops with NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and DOT Safety Education
• Pop-up performances along the route with Fogo Azul

Washington Heights — Route: St. Nicholas Avenue, 181 Street to 190 Street
Programming Highlights (11:00am – 5:00pm):

• Performances by The Jazz Power Initiative and Dance Project of Washington Heights
• Sports and fitness activities with Adeusa, The Armory Foundation and Van Cortlandt Titans Youth Football, as well as a kids learn to ride class with Bike New York
• Activities and workshops with the Washington Heights BID, Centro Civico Cultural Domicano, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), DOT Safety Education, Uptown Stories, and Word Up Community Bookstore

The Bronx

Mosholu Parkway* — Route: Southbound Mosholu Parkway, Van Cortlandt Avenue East to Bainbridge Avenue
Programming Highlights (11:00am – 5:00pm):

• Flatbed Follies performances by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and King Charles Troupe unicycle basketball performances
• E-Scooter demonstrations and helmet giveaways with Bird, Lime and Veo
• Activities and workshops with DOT Pedestrian Unit, DOT Safety Education, Montefiore Medical Center, NYC Parks Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center and the Wildlife Conservation Society

South Bronx** — Location: Roberto Clemente Plaza and Willis Avenue Open Street at 148 Street
Programming Highlights (11:00am – 5:00pm):

• Family-friendly games, bike information and helmet giveaway with the Third Avenue BID
• Dance performances and workshops with Silver Shoes Dance Club and Mazarte Dance
• Activities and workshops with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and DOT Safety Education

Brooklyn

Bed-Stuy** — Route: Tompkins Avenue, Gates Avenue to Halsey Street
Open Street Active Hours (11:00am – 7:00pm)
Programming Highlights (11:00am – 5:00pm):

• Street Lab’s Street Marker installation, featuring chalk and custom chalk tools to draw and create expansive murals, and BUILD, an interactive building station featuring Lego, Magna-Tiles, and more
• Activities and workshops with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, EDSA, Mechanical Gardens, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and the The Horticulture Society of New York

Queens

Jackson Heights** — Route: 34 Avenue, 69 Street to Junction Boulevard
Open Street Active Hours (7:00am – 8:00pm)
Programming Highlights (11:00am – 5:00pm):

• Performances by Green Tape Productions, Lotus Dance, Michael Rosman and Queensboro Dance
• Activities and workshops with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, DOT Safety Education, and the Horticultural Society of New York
• Pop-up learning activities with the Street Lab

Staten Island

North Shore** — Route: Minthorne Street, Bay Street to Victory Boulevard
Programming Highlights (11:00am-5:00pm):

• Performances by Hungry March Band, Mambembeì NY and The Dal Segño Brass Band
• Activities and workshops with HONK NYC, Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, The Glam Gardener, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, DCAS Office of Fleet Management, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Protection and DOT Safety Education
• DJ Jen & Nutmeg of Maker Park Radio will DJ at Minthorne Street

*New Car-Free Earth Day corridors
** Open Street/Plaza Locations, new to Car-Free Earth Day

More information and updates can be found at nyc.gov/carfreeday.