New York City bans cars in Times, Herald squares
05-26-2009, 05:50 PM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Fontana, California
Age: 47
Posts: 30,991
Received 582 Likes
on
346 Posts
New York City bans cars in Times, Herald squares
http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-york...d-squares.html
I think it's a cool concept. Imagine being able to walk along Las Vegas Blvd without worrying about being hit by a cab. 
The entire auto industry is moving towards a greener future, but some local governments are taking it upon themselves to ensure a healthy environment. It’s no secret that California is on the leading edge of this crusade but New York has just enacted its own measures.
According to the Associated Press, New York City has officially closed Times and Herald squares to cars. The move is intended to cut down on traffic and vehicle emissions, but will also help the city curtail pedestrian accidents.
Parts of Broadway will be closed from 47th to 42nd streets and 35th to 33rd streets. Road blockades went up on Sunday night and will remain indefinitely.
To celebrate the more pedestrian-friendly Times Square, city officials set out beach chairs and showed a movie on a big screen on Monday. If the project proves to be a success, look for more U.S. cities to adopt the no-cars policy.
According to the Associated Press, New York City has officially closed Times and Herald squares to cars. The move is intended to cut down on traffic and vehicle emissions, but will also help the city curtail pedestrian accidents.
Parts of Broadway will be closed from 47th to 42nd streets and 35th to 33rd streets. Road blockades went up on Sunday night and will remain indefinitely.
To celebrate the more pedestrian-friendly Times Square, city officials set out beach chairs and showed a movie on a big screen on Monday. If the project proves to be a success, look for more U.S. cities to adopt the no-cars policy.
05-26-2009, 06:14 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
I saw this on the news this morning. They were showing a mock up of what Times Square will look like. It appeared that they were only going to narrow it down to a couple lanes and widen the sidewalk.
05-26-2009, 06:18 PM
#3
http://www.leftlanenews.com/new-york...d-squares.html
I think it's a cool concept. Imagine being able to walk along Las Vegas Blvd without worrying about being hit by a cab.
I think it's a cool concept. Imagine being able to walk along Las Vegas Blvd without worrying about being hit by a cab.
Last edited by DiaBando; 05-26-2009 at 06:18 PM. Reason: spelling
05-26-2009, 06:21 PM
#4
Team Owner
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Fontana, California
Age: 47
Posts: 30,991
Received 582 Likes
on
346 Posts
if they go forward with this.
05-26-2009, 09:10 PM
#6
Senior Moderator
my name is srika and I approve of this thread
05-26-2009, 09:41 PM
#7
Safety Car
i live on the corner of herald sq. not a fan of this, whatsoever. herald sq will always be filled with street vendors. the pedestrian areas are congested enough as it is. the last thing i need is to pay more $$ on cabs that need to navigate around this.
Trending Topics
05-27-2009, 05:08 AM
#8
I shoot people
live web cam: http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/
cam #3 still shows some beach chairs laying around LOL
cam #3 still shows some beach chairs laying around LOL
05-27-2009, 07:59 AM
#9
My Garage
05-27-2009, 10:23 AM
#10
Senior Moderator
I think it's a great idea. As for those partial to cab rides (and the possibility of higher cab fares), here ya go:
http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm
http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm
05-27-2009, 10:48 AM
#13
Senior Moderator
05-27-2009, 11:08 AM
#15
they have this concept in europe for the last who knows how long. Dead center of the city is closed off for traffic at all times. They have gate systems where they can let through delivery trucks but they have to be a certain size, can't bring in a semi truck in there. It's great
05-27-2009, 11:36 AM
#16
Senior Moderator
As I often have to commute to our midtown office from NYP (that's NY Penn Station), I hoof it between both. Let me just say that at peak time -- between the tourists and commuters -- the sidewalks ARE dangerously overcrowded. It's not uncommon for me to use 7th Ave (the street itself) as sort of a pedestrian passing lane.
So, closing the streets to auto traffic is just fine to me. IMHO (and only IMHO), private vehicles really have no business in midtown during a weekday (during peak times specifically), there are too many cabs (whose drivers have poor driving skills and less regard for pedestrians) and commercial vehicles without deliveries to/from Time Squares establishments (or the immediate vicinity thereof) all don't need need to be in there.
This way, us commuters can get to where we have to go quickly and tourists will have room to gawk at the sky (as usual) with out us commuters flashing them nasty looks for being in the way of us getting to work or trying to make our commuter rail/bus connection.
A little selfish? Maybe. But, oh well!!
So, closing the streets to auto traffic is just fine to me. IMHO (and only IMHO), private vehicles really have no business in midtown during a weekday (during peak times specifically), there are too many cabs (whose drivers have poor driving skills and less regard for pedestrians) and commercial vehicles without deliveries to/from Time Squares establishments (or the immediate vicinity thereof) all don't need need to be in there.
This way, us commuters can get to where we have to go quickly and tourists will have room to gawk at the sky (as usual) with out us commuters flashing them nasty looks for being in the way of us getting to work or trying to make our commuter rail/bus connection.
A little selfish? Maybe. But, oh well!!
05-27-2009, 12:53 PM
#17
Safety Car
^ i hear ya. i agree that the streets are crowded and this is helpful for those non-residents.
But do you know how this impacts those that live directly in the area?? No cabs, moving trucks, furniture delivery. this is going to create a huge problem for the local residents.
imagine dealing with truck drivers as they cant find their way through one-way streets that are accessed off of broadway?
But do you know how this impacts those that live directly in the area?? No cabs, moving trucks, furniture delivery. this is going to create a huge problem for the local residents.
imagine dealing with truck drivers as they cant find their way through one-way streets that are accessed off of broadway?
Last edited by ThermonMermon; 05-27-2009 at 12:58 PM.
05-27-2009, 02:25 PM
#18
Instructor
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: queens,ny
Age: 41
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What if you booked a hotel around that area? Are u supposed to carry your bags 4 blocks to get to your hotel. What if you had to catch a cab? This is all mayor bloomberg plan to transform Manhattan into this fairy land place. First they chased all hookers and now cars.
05-27-2009, 03:09 PM
#20
Senior Moderator
As one who went to 2nd grade at Holy Cross school (circa 1975), I recall the old TS and LOVE the fact that it's seediness has been nearly eliminated. TS simply radiated filth at every level back in the 70s. But, I digress.As for transporting one's luggage to TS hotels in the absence of MV traffic, sounds like some sort of valet service might be in order for such contingencies. I'm sure all those high end hotels can figure something out.
05-27-2009, 03:13 PM
#21
Go Giants
05-27-2009, 03:13 PM
#22
^ i hear ya. i agree that the streets are crowded and this is helpful for those non-residents.
But do you know how this impacts those that live directly in the area?? No cabs, moving trucks, furniture delivery. this is going to create a huge problem for the local residents.
imagine dealing with truck drivers as they cant find their way through one-way streets that are accessed off of broadway?
But do you know how this impacts those that live directly in the area?? No cabs, moving trucks, furniture delivery. this is going to create a huge problem for the local residents.
imagine dealing with truck drivers as they cant find their way through one-way streets that are accessed off of broadway?
Sacrifice the needs of a few, for the good of many......
Welcome to socialist America.
Although this ban doesn't directly affect me, it is quite upsetting to see the path America is taking. If you think this ban will stop at big cities, think again. It won't be long before cars are banned everywhere.
05-27-2009, 03:23 PM
#23
Senior Moderator
I think that's an overreaction. But be it the difficulty parking, cost of parking, type of parking, cost of insurance or the ready availability of the most comprehensive mass transit system on the planet (by far), NYC is NOT and will NEVER be a car city.
However, this is unlikely to be the case in MOST other American cities.
However, this is unlikely to be the case in MOST other American cities.
05-27-2009, 05:27 PM
#25
Safety Car
[QUOTE=sho_nuff1997;10943559]Sacrifice the needs of a few, for the good of many......
QUOTE]
understood.
the way i see, as do many others in the area - some bldgs, including my own (32nd and Bway), are virtually inaccessible by vehicle due to the need for creating more pedestrian foot traffic...a need that is a result of illegal immigrant street vendors clogging the sidewalks.
IMHO, the city funding that will go into traffic control of the blockades would have been better spent on additional patrol to crackdown on illegal street vending.
QUOTE]
understood.
the way i see, as do many others in the area - some bldgs, including my own (32nd and Bway), are virtually inaccessible by vehicle due to the need for creating more pedestrian foot traffic...a need that is a result of illegal immigrant street vendors clogging the sidewalks.
IMHO, the city funding that will go into traffic control of the blockades would have been better spent on additional patrol to crackdown on illegal street vending.
05-27-2009, 05:52 PM
#26
Ok, from looking at Cam 5 on that webcam site, did NYC decide to close down half of Times Square, or are they just letting buses through because I'm watching about 4 or 5 buses waiting & a cab cruising by on 1 side, while people crowd on the other side of a fence. 
05-28-2009, 12:43 PM
#31
Team Owner
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Fontana, California
Age: 47
Posts: 30,991
Received 582 Likes
on
346 Posts
I think that's an overreaction. But be it the difficulty parking, cost of parking, type of parking, cost of insurance or the ready availability of the most comprehensive mass transit system on the planet (by far), NYC is NOT and will NEVER be a car city.
However, this is unlikely to be the case in MOST other American cities.
However, this is unlikely to be the case in MOST other American cities.
I think where there is more foot traffic than road traffic should be the first place to look towards banning vehicles. That doesn't have to apply to everywhere.
I agree that NY will never be a car city, I can only dream that certain places in and around L.A. could ever become that.
05-28-2009, 09:38 PM
#33
One on the right for me
Sacrifice the needs of a few, for the good of many......
Welcome to socialist America.
Although this ban doesn't directly affect me, it is quite upsetting to see the path America is taking. If you think this ban will stop at big cities, think again. It won't be long before cars are banned everywhere.
Welcome to socialist America.
Although this ban doesn't directly affect me, it is quite upsetting to see the path America is taking. If you think this ban will stop at big cities, think again. It won't be long before cars are banned everywhere.
05-28-2009, 10:11 PM
#34
I think that's an overreaction. But be it the difficulty parking, cost of parking, type of parking, cost of insurance or the ready availability of the most comprehensive mass transit system on the planet (by far), NYC is NOT and will NEVER be a car city.
However, this is unlikely to be the case in MOST other American cities.
However, this is unlikely to be the case in MOST other American cities.
I think where there is more foot traffic than road traffic should be the first place to look towards banning vehicles. That doesn't have to apply to everywhere.
I agree that NY will never be a car city, I can only dream that certain places in and around L.A. could ever become that.
I might be overreacting or paraoid if the reasoning was not this:
The move is intended to cut down on traffic and vehicle emissions, but will also help the city curtail pedestrian accidents
Closing a few blocks to traffic, will in no way reduce emissions. The cars are still driving, just not on those blocks.
The bans will continue in other cities under the guise of reducing emissions and before long every city will ban cars because "it reduces emissions".
05-28-2009, 11:26 PM
#35
Team Owner
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Fontana, California
Age: 47
Posts: 30,991
Received 582 Likes
on
346 Posts
I might be overreacting or paraoid if the reasoning was not this:
Closing a few blocks to traffic, will in no way reduce emissions. The cars are still driving, just not on those blocks.
The bans will continue in other cities under the guise of reducing emissions and before long every city will ban cars because "it reduces emissions".
Closing a few blocks to traffic, will in no way reduce emissions. The cars are still driving, just not on those blocks.
The bans will continue in other cities under the guise of reducing emissions and before long every city will ban cars because "it reduces emissions".
05-29-2009, 09:12 AM
#36
^ It's that exact logic that will lead to mass bannings of cars everywhere. The same amount cars are still driving, just not in the closed area. Instead, they drive up to the enclosed area.
Rather than having 10K cars inside Times Square, the same 10K are outside the square. How is that reducing emmisions?
While the people inside the barriers may feel like they are in Shangri La, the folks outside the barriers are back to square one. Now we have to start over again because there are too many cars outside Times Square. Cue the ban of cars outside the square to reduce emissions, the cars get moved and the cycle continues.
When will it end?
Rather than having 10K cars inside Times Square, the same 10K are outside the square. How is that reducing emmisions?
While the people inside the barriers may feel like they are in Shangri La, the folks outside the barriers are back to square one. Now we have to start over again because there are too many cars outside Times Square. Cue the ban of cars outside the square to reduce emissions, the cars get moved and the cycle continues.
When will it end?
05-29-2009, 03:02 PM
#37
DuDeChEwY
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: New Jersey
Age: 40
Posts: 1,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
05-29-2009, 03:05 PM
#38
Senior Moderator
05-29-2009, 08:29 PM
#39
One on the right for me
^ It's that exact logic that will lead to mass bannings of cars everywhere. The same amount cars are still driving, just not in the closed area. Instead, they drive up to the enclosed area.
Rather than having 10K cars inside Times Square, the same 10K are outside the square. How is that reducing emmisions?
While the people inside the barriers may feel like they are in Shangri La, the folks outside the barriers are back to square one. Now we have to start over again because there are too many cars outside Times Square. Cue the ban of cars outside the square to reduce emissions, the cars get moved and the cycle continues.
When will it end?
Rather than having 10K cars inside Times Square, the same 10K are outside the square. How is that reducing emmisions?
While the people inside the barriers may feel like they are in Shangri La, the folks outside the barriers are back to square one. Now we have to start over again because there are too many cars outside Times Square. Cue the ban of cars outside the square to reduce emissions, the cars get moved and the cycle continues.
When will it end?
You are making an assumption that just because the cars are not on the closed sections means they are elsewhere. People might realize it is easier to take a bus or other public transportation. It isn't a direct displacement of cars.
05-31-2009, 01:31 PM
#40
Burning Brakes
I hate this Idea and I hate buses and trains even more. There are plenty of cars that need to drive through Manhattan and this will definitley make getting around more difficult.
Buses and trains are crowded enough. But if you rather squeeze yourself into one of those underground sardine cans so you can be pick pocketed or molested by strangers than be my guest