Streetsblog New York City

There goes my direct bike route home... sigh... But good for the world, so I accept it.

This sounds so good. We are actually a student group from Stanford University pushing for a pedestrian mall in Palo Alto. All eyes are on New york now. I hope the project is a big success so we can garner more support our initiative. We believe that ped malls boost local businesses and foster a stronger sense of community too.

What kind of trees do you suggest for a six-month pilot program?

Trees? What? Where? ...this is Times Sq for pete's sake, "don't dance before you can walk." There are trees at Bryant Park, a block away. Lots of 'em. I'll take the ped mall for now, and if someone wants to pay to put some trees in boxes like in the parks in Paris (eg, the Luxembourg Gardens), fine. Not sure what's under Times Sq suitable for growing things in anyway. One step @ time.

Cheers,
J.

There will surely be more greenery than shown in the illustration above. The stretch of Broadway from 42nd to 35th St. already got some of this treatment last year. You won't get any big trees, but saplings in boxes or pots, altogether plenty of oversized potted plants to bring green to the scene. It wont be baked and dry as seen above.

#10 AviationMetalSmith, "What about electric wheelchairs, and mobility scooters?"

Yesterday, I saw a person traversing the Brooklyn Bridge on an electric wheelchair.

So cool!

I'm sure an electric recumbent tricycle would greatly improve his life; especially, when the streets are really safe to make them practical all over.

Yeah, electric mobility scooters. There are 2 wheel, 3 wheel, and 4 wheel versions. But underneath the fiberglass, the wheels, batteries and motors are identical.
A lot of people forget that bicycle riding is easier than walking. And with a motor it's easier still. It doesn't take a lot of effort to remain balanced on a two wheel scooter, and the two wheeler can fit through tight spaces. There are a number of handicapped people who use two wheel scooters, the same kind the kids ride.
As for bicycles, the "Dismount Bike" signs are really annoying. Why not let the cyclists proceed at walking speed? This goes for all the "Dismount" or "walk bike" areas throughout Manhattan. Walking a bike actually takes more space, and I've noticed some pedestrians who somehow try to walk between me and my bike when I am walking it. I can't let go of the bike, it will fall over.
A ten mile per hour speed limit for bikes is what is needed, not these blasted " Dismount and Walk Bike" signs.