Comments on: Bedford Avenue to Go Car-Free Four Saturdays This Summer http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:09:46 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Connie http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-53016 Connie Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:18:38 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-53016 Over at billburg.com, we are very excited about Williamsburg Walks and want to make sure that all members of the community are informed. We have a forum as noted above set up for questions and comments: billburg.com/walks/discuss, but I wanted to take a minute to personally post in response to other comments. Transportation Alternatives has been indispensable in getting this to happen in Williamsburg. It will take some initiative & a good deal of work, but if we can do it here, you can do it too! We are more than willing to share our experiences with any neighborhood groups interested in recreating this sort of event in their area. We are aware of the reputation of this neighborhood. However, we are reaching out to all the communities in this area to ensure that the rich diversity of the area will be reflected. We want everyone to feel welcome. If anyone has any questions, comments or feedback, please feel free to contact Connie directly-- williamsburgwalks (at) billburg (dot) com. Over at billburg.com, we are very excited about Williamsburg Walks and want to make sure that all members of the community are informed. We have a forum as noted above set up for questions and comments: billburg.com/walks/discuss, but I wanted to take a minute to personally post in response to other comments.

Transportation Alternatives has been indispensable in getting this to happen in Williamsburg. It will take some initiative & a good deal of work, but if we can do it here, you can do it too! We are more than willing to share our experiences with any neighborhood groups interested in recreating this sort of event in their area.

We are aware of the reputation of this neighborhood. However, we are reaching out to all the communities in this area to ensure that the rich diversity of the area will be reflected. We want everyone to feel welcome.

If anyone has any questions, comments or feedback, please feel free to contact Connie directly-- williamsburgwalks (at) billburg (dot) com.

]]> By: shishi http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52765 shishi Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:32:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52765 Contact TA. With a bit of planning you can easily get the permits in place to close a block(s) for a few weeks in a a row, but you have to do it ahead of time and usually three months out. Contact TA. With a bit of planning you can easily get the permits in place to close a block(s) for a few weeks in a a row, but you have to do it ahead of time and usually three months out.

]]> By: bicyclebelle http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52741 bicyclebelle Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:09:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52741 To John: My understanding is that the locals you are disparaging worked hard to make this happen. Transportation Alternatives says, "If you want to learn how replicate this program in your neighborhood, contact lindsey@transalt.org." To John: My understanding is that the locals you are disparaging worked hard to make this happen. Transportation Alternatives says, "If you want to learn how replicate this program in your neighborhood, contact lindsey@transalt.org."

]]> By: bureaucrat http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52738 bureaucrat Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:50:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52738 john, i doubt anyone would disagree with you. however, 1) wealthier neighborhoods tend to be more vocal in organizing and demanding things - that's just a fact of life 2) the city has limited resources to try to make up for #1 if you have any suggestions then pls let them fly john, i doubt anyone would disagree with you. however,
1) wealthier neighborhoods tend to be more vocal in organizing and demanding things - that's just a fact of life
2) the city has limited resources to try to make up for #1
if you have any suggestions then pls let them fly

]]> By: john the bicyclist http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52729 john the bicyclist Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:57:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52729 "...the artistic community, the Polish community, the Latino community"? What about all the over-endowed trust funders while you are at it? Why is it that only the prime neighborhoods get this benefit? There needs to be a city-wide reduction in vehicle travel, not just the "nice parts". "...the artistic community, the Polish community, the Latino community"?

What about all the over-endowed trust funders while you are at it?

Why is it that only the prime neighborhoods get this benefit?

There needs to be a city-wide reduction in vehicle travel, not just the "nice parts".

]]> By: Brad Aaron http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52722 Brad Aaron Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:24:38 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52722 Thanks all re Montague. That'll teach me to web verify. Thanks all re Montague. That'll teach me to web verify.

]]> By: drosejr http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52717 drosejr Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:00:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52717 Looks like Montague is confirmed, according to the DOT website: About DOT Commissioner’s Corner Re-imagining the Public Realm - June 2008 (Most of note deleted) We will also be experimenting with slightly smaller street openings that have been requested by communities and businesses on Montague Street and Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. Here, the locals determined the extent of the events and will determine how they look and feel. These temporary changes, much like our temporary plazas program, allow us to push the boundaries of how we use our city's streets. They provide us with a valuable training ground, where we can test new ideas, figure out what works well and what needs refinement, all the while inspiring New Yorkers and visitors to squint their eyes and blur the boundary between streets and public space. Looks like Montague is confirmed, according to the DOT website:

About DOT
Commissioner’s Corner

Re-imagining the Public Realm - June 2008

(Most of note deleted)

We will also be experimenting with slightly smaller street openings that have been requested by communities and businesses on Montague Street and Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. Here, the locals determined the extent of the events and will determine how they look and feel.

These temporary changes, much like our temporary plazas program, allow us to push the boundaries of how we use our city's streets. They provide us with a valuable training ground, where we can test new ideas, figure out what works well and what needs refinement, all the while inspiring New Yorkers and visitors to squint their eyes and blur the boundary between streets and public space.

]]> By: Urbanis http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52716 Urbanis Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:55:58 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52716 It seems like Brooklyn may be ahead of Manhattan on these matters: four Saturdays (as compared to three), seven hours (as compared to six), and a time when most of us aren't catching up on sleep. It seems like Brooklyn may be ahead of Manhattan on these matters: four Saturdays (as compared to three), seven hours (as compared to six), and a time when most of us aren't catching up on sleep.

]]> By: JP http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52713 JP Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:39:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52713 Can we get a car-free BQE? Can we get a car-free BQE?

]]> By: Jason Varone http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52710 Jason Varone Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:27:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52710 The Montague BID's website has this notice on the front page: Summer Space, a temporary environment for people-watching and relaxation, is coming to Montague Street on Sundays this July. Three blocks — from Clinton down to the Promenade — will be transformed into pedestrian piazzas under a pilot program launched by the BID and NYC DOT. The program will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., staring on Sunday, July 6th, continuing on the three Sundays that follow. More information is available in our summer newsletter. Please contact us at 718-522-3649 for more information on how your business can participate. The Montague BID's website has this notice on the front page:

Summer Space, a temporary environment for people-watching and relaxation, is coming to Montague Street on Sundays this July.

Three blocks — from Clinton down to the Promenade — will be transformed into pedestrian piazzas under a pilot program launched by the BID and NYC DOT. The program will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., staring on Sunday, July 6th, continuing on the three Sundays that follow.

More information is available in our summer newsletter. Please contact us at 718-522-3649 for more information on how your business can participate.

]]> By: Jeffrey Hymen http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-52707 Jeffrey Hymen Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:19:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/06/27/bedford-avenue-to-go-car-free-four-saturdays-this-summer/#comment-52707 The executive director of the Montague Street BID has held a public information meeting and presented to the downtown community board. Sounds like more than "what if" to me. The executive director of the Montague Street BID has held a public information meeting and presented to the downtown community board. Sounds like more than "what if" to me.

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