New NYC Open Streets Announced On Earth Day

NEW YORK CITY — New York City's streets will belong to the people — again — this summer.

The city's Open Streets program this year will add 21 new locations across the five boroughs, officials said in an Earth Day announcement.

All told, 156 Open Streets will fan out over 300 blocks this season, giving New Yorkers a chance to walk, bike, dine and otherwise enjoy life without worrying about cars, officials said.

“Open Streets was one of the few bright spots of the pandemic," Ydanis Rodriguez, the city's transportation commissioner, said in a statement.

"I am proud that we have found a way to support more streets in more diverse communities in every borough that can be part of this incredible and permanent program."

New Open Streets

Manhattan

• West 158th Street: Broadway to Amsterdam Avenue
• Forsyth Street: East Broadway to Division Street
• West 188th Street: Amsterdam Avenue to Audubon Avenue
• West 115th Street: St Nicholas Avenue to Lenox Avenue
• East 115th Street: Park Avenue to Park Avenue (5/28)
• La Salle Street: Broadway to Claremont Avenue (4/28)
• West 196th Street: Broadway to Ellwood Street (4/25)
• East 115th Street: Pleasant Avenue to 1st Avenue (9/10)

Brooklyn

• Watkins Street: Street End to Belmont Avenue
• North 15 Street: Nassau Avenue to Banker Street
• South 1 Street: Berry Street to Wythe Avenue
• Buffalo Avenue: St Marks Avenue to Bergen Street (6/18)
• West 12 Street: Surf Avenue to Street End (5/21)
• Lewis Avenue: Fulton to Hancock Street (6/4)
• Graham Avenue: Scholes Street to Montrose Avenue (4/29)
• Chauncey Street: Howard Avenue to Saratoga Avenue (7/2)
• Benson Avenue: Bay 19 Street to 18th Avenue (7/11)
• Duffield St: Metrotech Center to Willoughby St (4/25)

Queens

• Murdock Avenue: 180th Street to Street End

Bronx

• Longfellow Avenue: Freeman Street to Jennings Street
• Kelly Street: East 163rd Street to Intervale Avenue (7/11)

The complete list is available here.

New Yorkers won't have to wait for the summer for car-free fun, either.

The largest "Car-Free Earth Day" will unfold Saturday, with celebrations ranging from music, dance, art and more exploding across more than 100 open streets, 22 plazas and 1,000 miles of bike paths.

New Yorkers who have never ridden a Citi Bike will get a special perk that day.

Lyft/Citi Bike will offer free one-day passes to new riders, the company announced. Those who use the code CARFREE22 will receive unlimited 30-minute rides on a classic Citi Bike for 24 hours.

Car-Free Earth Day Locations

• Bronx, Roberto Clemente Plaza, 3rd Avenue, 148th Street to 149th Street
• Bronx, Southbound Mosholu Parkway, Van Cortlandt Avenue East to Bainbridge Avenue
• Brooklyn, Tompkins Avenue, Gates Avenue to Halsey Street
• Manhattan, Avenue B, East 6th Street to East 14th Street
• Manhattan, Broadway, East 17th Street to West 42nd Street
• Manhattan, Dyckman Street, Quisqueya Plaza to Dyckman Marina
• Manhattan, St. Nicholas Avenue, 181st Street to 190th Street
• Queens, 34th Avenue, 69th Street to 94th Street
• Staten Island, Minthorne Street, Bay Street to Victory Boulevard

The Department of Transportation added that it is still accepting applications for new potential Open Streets.

“On Earth Day and every day, we are showing the nation how to reimagine our public space at scale and build a greener, healthier, and safer city,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

“As we work hand-in-hand with our partners on the ground to give communities the space and programming they need, I look forward to all they will offer their neighbors and our city.”