Open Streets

‘Open Culture’ program will bring outdoor art and live performances to NYC this spring

The Museum of the City of New York opened an outdoor photo installation this summer titled “New York Responds,” Photo courtesy of MCNY

December 11, 2020

‘Open Culture’ program will bring outdoor art and live performances to NYC this spring

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council on Thursday passed legislation permitting cultural institutions to use public outdoor space for events and performances. Sponsored by Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, the bill requires the city to create the "Open Culture" program, modeled after the city's successful outdoor dining initiative, which lets restaurants set up seating on sidewalks and some streets closed to cars. The program is set to be established by March 1, 2021.
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Can Times Square ever be completely car-free?

Rendering courtesy of 3deluxe

November 10, 2020

Can Times Square ever be completely car-free?

By Devin Gannon

It's been over ten years since cars were first banned in some sections of Times Square. Is it time for additional street closures along bustling Broadway? In a new design study, the Germany-based architecture firm 3deluxe has reimagined Times Square to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, trading vehicular traffic lanes for recreational activities, landscaped features, and public transportation. The concept comes as New York and other cities continue to reexamine the value of safe public space as the fight to control the coronavirus pandemic continues.
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40 NYC streets will now be open for outdoor dining on weekdays

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim via Flickr cc

September 17, 2020

40 NYC streets will now be open for outdoor dining on weekdays

By Dana Schulz

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim via Flickr cc Just days after he expanded the city's popular Open Streets program to 87 streets and nine pedestrian plazas, Mayor de Blasio announced that 40 of these locations will now be open on weekdays to accommodate outdoor dining. Previously, the car-free streets were only allowed to operate on Friday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays. "Restaurants deserve every chance they can get to serve more customers this fall – and, as the weather gets cooler, New Yorkers deserve every chance they can get to enjoy outdoor dining," said Mayor de Blasio.
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Food & Dining

87 streets in NYC are now car-free outdoor dining destinations

Rockwell Group’s DineOut NYC in Manhattan’s Chinatown; Photo courtesy of Emily Andrews for Rockwell Group

September 14, 2020

87 streets in NYC are now car-free outdoor dining destinations

By Devin Gannon

Even as the city prepares to resume indoor dining this month, more restaurants will be able to take advantage of the program that allows expanded street and sidewalk seating. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last week seven new locations for outdoor dining on open streets across the five boroughs, bringing the total to 87 streets and nine pedestrian plazas designated for restaurant use on weekends. The latest batch of outdoor dining streets will be overseen by a number of neighborhood restaurants, including Gertie's in Williamsburg, Kheo-Yo in Tribeca, Ray's Bar on the Lower East Side, and others.
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Food & Dining

NYC’s latest set of outdoor dining open streets includes 13 blocks on the Upper West Side

Open streets outdoor dining along West 47th Street, photo by CityRealty

August 3, 2020

NYC’s latest set of outdoor dining open streets includes 13 blocks on the Upper West Side

By Dana Schulz

Open streets outdoor dining along West 47th Street, photo by CityRealty On Friday, Mayor de Blasio announced that an additional 15 locations would be closing to traffic and opening their streets for outdoor dining through a combination of the city's Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs. This brings the total to 62 participating streets. Some of the latest include 13 blocks along Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side, another stretch in Chinatown, Koreatown, a few in Noho/Soho, and five blocks along Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights. Since restaurants were first able to open for outdoor dining when phase two began on June 22, more than 9,500 have signed on to participate.
The full list of open streets

De Blasio adds ‘play streets’ to some car-free blocks, but cuts nearly 3 miles from the program

Photo courtesy of city’s Department of Transportation on Flickr

July 24, 2020

De Blasio adds ‘play streets’ to some car-free blocks, but cuts nearly 3 miles from the program

By Devin Gannon

While the city is adding just under two miles of open streets to its roster of car-free blocks, nearly three miles will be removed from the program. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday announced 1.72 miles of open streets across the five boroughs, as well as a new initiative called "Play Streets," which will offer families a number of contactless activities, sports, and arts and crafts on 12 streets currently closed to cars. However, the mayor failed to mention during the press briefing that 2.77 miles will be cut from the program and returned to normal vehicle traffic at "underused locations."
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July 22, 2020

10 iconic streets and spots in NYC open for outdoor dining

By Devin Gannon

Since Mayor Bill de Blasio rolled out the open restaurants program last month, allowing eateries to serve diners on sidewalks and in adjacent parking spots, over 9,000 eateries have reopened for outdoor dining. Offering another lifeline to the struggling industry, especially now that indoor dining has been postponed indefinitely, the city has also closed more than 40 blocks to traffic for its weekend-only open streets dining program, overseen by community organizations and neighborhood Business Improvement Districts. With so many al fresco dining options available, we're rounding up the most iconic New York City streets and establishments now open for outdoor dining, from the most photographed block in Brooklyn and New York's oldest bar in Queens to open-air plazas with views of city landmarks.
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Food & Dining

NYC will now have 67 miles of open streets, the most in the U.S.

Photo looking south on open West End Avenue, taken by 6sqft on 5.16.20

June 24, 2020

NYC will now have 67 miles of open streets, the most in the U.S.

By Dana Schulz

New York City will add 23 new miles of open streets, bringing the total to roughly 67 miles of streets closed to cars citywide, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. When the mayor first announced the program, he committed to opening 100 miles of streets throughout the pandemic. "This is going to be great for people looking for a break this summer with all the things going on, a place for kids to exercise and run around," the mayor said during a press conference. "It's growing, and we're going to keep adding to it."
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NYC Council will introduce bill that requires open street space be used for outdoor dining

Photo by almapapi on Pixabay

May 28, 2020

NYC Council will introduce bill that requires open street space be used for outdoor dining

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council is set to introduce legislation on Thursday that requires the city to use open space for outdoor dining during the coronavirus pandemic. Restaurants and bars have now been closed for in-person service for over two months because of the state's "pause" order that shuttered all nonessential businesses. And while takeout and delivery options remain available, the restaurant industry has taken a tremendous hit, with many longtime restaurants forced to close permanently.
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Photo courtesy of NYC DOT/Flickr

May 13, 2020

NYC opens 12 more miles of open streets

By Dana Schulz

This brings the total to nearly 21 miles since Mayor de Blasio first announced that he'd be opening up 40 miles of streets to pedestrians by the end of the month, with an ultimate goal of 100 miles throughout the current COVID crisis. In his press conference this morning, the mayor announced the third round of open streets totaling 11.7 miles would be opening tomorrow, along with 9.2 miles of protected bike lanes by the end of May. Some of the new open streets include those in Hudson Yards, the first on the Upper West Side and in Long Island City, and those adjacent to seven more parks in Brooklyn.
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Second set of NYC open streets launches tomorrow in collaboration with local BIDs

By Dana Schulz

After finally getting on board with the idea of opening New York City streets to pedestrians, Mayor de Blasio closed the first wave of streets to cars earlier this week. This totaled 4.5 miles inside parks and 2.7 miles adjacent to parks; eventually, the city will open up to 100 miles of streets. The next group will open up tomorrow, which includes 1.5 miles in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx done in collaboration with Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), as well as 0.4 miles in Jackson Heights, Queens.
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First wave of NYC open streets plan to start next week

Photo courtesy of NYC DOT on Flickr

May 1, 2020

First wave of NYC open streets plan to start next week

By Devin Gannon

The first phase of the city's plan to close up to 100 miles of streets to cars will start on Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday. The first streets to open to pedestrians include 4.5 miles inside parks and 2.7 miles adjacent to parks, according to the mayor. "The goal here is more space, more social distancing," de Blasio said.
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NYC to open up to 100 miles of streets for pedestrians

Photo courtesy of NYC DOT/ Flickr

April 27, 2020

NYC to open up to 100 miles of streets for pedestrians

By Devin Gannon

The city will open 40 miles of streets for pedestrians over the next month with the goal of opening up to 100 miles for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday. During a press briefing, the mayor said an agreement had been reached with the City Council, which had introduced "open streets" legislation last week and planned to move forward with or without City Hall approval. The plan also includes adding temporary protected bike lanes and expanding some sidewalks.
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NYC Council wants to open up to 75 miles of streets for pedestrians during COVID-19

The city’s “Summer Streets” program in 2019; Photo of NYC DOT on Flickr

April 17, 2020

NYC Council wants to open up to 75 miles of streets for pedestrians during COVID-19

By Devin Gannon

Up to 75 miles of city streets could soon be closed to cars under new legislation set to be introduced by the City Council next week. Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Member Carlina Rivera on Friday announced a proposal to open streets to pedestrians and cyclists during the coronavirus pandemic to allow for proper social distancing. The plan comes after Mayor Bill de Blasio launched an open-streets pilot last month, only to end the program 10 days later.
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Policy

After just 10 days, de Blasio ends open street program

Photo of 2019 Summer Streets, courtesy of NYC DOT/Flickr

April 6, 2020

After just 10 days, de Blasio ends open street program

By Dana Schulz

Pointing to an overuse of NYPD personnel as the main reason, Mayor de Blasio said in his press conference on Sunday that he would not be extending the Safe Streets pilot that he launched 10 days ago. The program closed one six-block stretch of road to vehicles in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx in order to provide more open space for pedestrians. But despite continued overcrowding in parks, the Mayor has decided the resources used to keep the streets open are better allocated elsewhere.
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De Blasio’s open street pilot gets extended through Sunday

Photo courtesy of NYC DOT/Flickr

March 31, 2020

De Blasio’s open street pilot gets extended through Sunday

By Dana Schulz

After receiving pressure from both Governor Cuomo and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson to close some streets to vehicular traffic in an effort to give New Yorkers more outdoor space to exercise, Mayor de Blasio finally launched a Safe Streets pilot from Friday, March 27, to Monday, March 30 that included a roughly six-block stretch in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, totaling 1.6 miles of the city's 6,000 miles of roads. Today, the Mayor's office announced that they'll be extending the pilot program through Sunday, April 5th with the same hours of 10am-7pm.
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