Pedestrians reveled in their new rights yesterday as New York City closed Times Square to cars.
(Michael Nagle/ Reuters)
'The Crosswalks of the World'
Pedestrians reveled in their new rights yesterday as New York City closed Times Square to cars.
(Michael Nagle/ Reuters)
New York Times
/
May 25, 2009
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NEW YORK - Paul Ziemer and Pikkam So traveled to Times Square yesterday from their home at the northern tip of Manhattan and allowed their 14-month-old son, Benjamin, to do what few New Yorkers have ever done:
Walk safely right down the center of Broadway in the middle of the day.
Yesterday, the Bloomberg administration put a plan into effect to reduce traffic congestion in Midtown by closing two sections of Broadway to vehicles, from 47th to 42d Streets and 35th to 33d Streets. The idea is to eliminate the cross-currents Broadway traffic creates on nearby avenues.
Because Broadway - like nature - abhors a vacuum, it took no coaching whatsoever to encourage the crowds to spill off the sidewalks and into the newly empty traffic lanes. "I've lived here for 15 years," Ziemer said, "and this was only closed for New Year's Eve" - not typically the best time for a stroll with a baby.
One block away, Lev Teshler, from Kew Gardens of Queens, also found himself drawn to the middle of the street. "From my point of view, it's great," he said.
It is probably safe to say that the traffic program, known as "Green Light for Midtown," will not get its real test until tomorrow, the first business day after the Memorial Day weekend.
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