REPORT: Cars officially banned from New York's Time Square
The crossroads of North America is about to become a lot more pedestrian-friendly. New York City's Times Square is reportedly getting a makeover to make it car-free. According to an Associated Press report, portions of Broadway from 42nd Street up to 47th and from 33rd to 35th are being closed to cars to cut down on pollution, traffic and pedestrian accidents.
To kick off the new arrangement, NYC has planned something of a block party in the Square, where they'll play a movie on a giant screen and street performers will entertain the crowds. They're even going to set out beach chairs so folks can cop a squat and soak it all in.
Barriers started going up on Sunday around Times Square and the nearby Herald Square in front of Macy's. Herald Square is the other area that will become a pedestrian mall as a result of the changes. To make sure everything goes smoothly, the Department of Transportation says it will be keeping a close eye on traffic in the area as the new setup ramps up.
[Source: The Associated Press, Photo by Laughing Squid | CC2.0]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Sea Urchin 1:35PM (5/26/2009)
Finally, this place can be reached by 20 subways, no one needs to ride there. Plus this will attract so many tourists.
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Throwback 1:47PM (5/26/2009)
As a native New Yorker I can tell you Times Square has more than enough tourists. This will hopefully allow traffic to flow a little beter since it effectively eliminates the 7thave/Broadway crossover. Nice idea all around.
Smegley 3:37PM (5/26/2009)
They should ban pedestrians, bulldoze the sidewalks, and add lanes.
PJ 3:39PM (5/26/2009)
Visit NYC plz.
Quantumphysics 4:13PM (5/26/2009)
This sucks balls.
Sometimes I'll get my girlfriend and drive to central park, make that left onto broadway and coast through Times Square just to remind myself that NYC is the most beautiful city in the world and now we can't do that anymore?
Kunikos 4:56PM (5/26/2009)
@Quantumphysics: Most beautiful city in the world? Are you smoking crack? Get out there and visit more cities in the world before you say something like that. NYC is freakin' ugly, and other than Central Park and the ferry dock park (forget the name) it's mostly a wasteland of fiberglass, concrete, and neon. Try visiting Paris sometime, yes?
br4nd0nh347 5:58PM (5/26/2009)
it's an acquired taste, it's old (but not the oldest), and I'm sure the commenter hasn't seen every city in the world, however it is beautiful in it's own way.
Quantumphysics 11:54AM (5/27/2009)
Kunikos
NY has EVERYTHING.
I love Tokyo too, but NY has EVERYTHING.
I lived in Shanghai for a long time and they have arguably the newest buildings of most modernized cities in Pu Dong, but, NY just has everything. Whether you like Manhattan, or Queens living.
Randy 12:53PM (5/29/2009)
@Quantumphysics
Options
1. Segway
2. Two seat bicycle
3. Walk, Jog, Run, Crawl
4. Skateboards
I know you have a routine but it's not like you can't still see it. I think it'll be nicer without cars!
Ya know. They should get rid of 50% of the streets and turn them into big people movers. Like the flat escalators at some airports. Just huge.....
phoenix 1:36PM (5/26/2009)
Oh well, no more drag racing in Times Sq, I guess...
Not like anyone could actually DRIVE there anyway -- it's just like trying to get around downtown London.
Stupider things have happened.
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Rob 2:23PM (5/26/2009)
You can still drag race/gunfight/helicopter chase through times square in GTAIV. I wonder if the next patch will eliminate all the traffic from this area?
Serg 1:40PM (5/26/2009)
As a life long New Yorker who owns a car, I welcome the change.
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Jorge 1:44PM (5/26/2009)
So now they can do Vanilla Sky without special effects?
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Level 1:45PM (5/26/2009)
Wrong idea, people who usually go to times square in cars just do a drive by snap a picture and leave, now a lot of people will be force to find parking where there is NO parking, They cleaned up once mess and are going to create another and on top of the it's the bottle neck where 2 major streets cross paths. If you seen 8th ave it can't hold any more traffic....
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Sea Urchin 2:19PM (5/26/2009)
I don't know anyone who would drive to TS, everyone knows that it is hell to drive, plus you can not really see anything from the car.
Look there are areas of Manhattan that simply should not have cars, because they are so crowded and because there are so many subway stations around.
Andre 4:14PM (5/26/2009)
That's why you have the SUBWAY..
Level 4:05PM (5/27/2009)
I live in NYC and I'll be damn if I use the nasty subway lol...as far as public transportation goes I'll take a yellow cab....It's been at least 4-5 years since last time used the subway or the bus...
Aloysius Vampa 1:49PM (5/26/2009)
What.
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superset5 1:51PM (5/26/2009)
this has been planned for months so this really isn't news to folks in NYC.
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RED_ 1:52PM (5/26/2009)
Good idea, this needs to be done in more places. Would be brilliant it was implemented @ oxford street in London.
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