They shouldn’t have to. Most of the tourists that visit Times Square obviously want to walk about freely since everything is so close together. I’m sure 311 will get complaints about this plan, mostly from drivers. However, if you look at the plan of pedestrianizing Times Square and Herald Square, it makes sense to redirect traffic towards the much larger avenues that accommodate for it. Broadway is a chicane of an obstacle course as is, and I’m speaking as a driver. Now, imagine as a cyclist…

“Taxi drivers are alarmed that it will cut down on fares”

Yes, because tourists hate pedestrian streets, and it will drive them away in droves. Or something.