Comments on: Streetfilms: Carmaggeddon Averted as Broadway Comes to Life

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:51:51 +0000

no one is talking about closing the transverses, which are used by buses. Just the loop drive.

By: ChrisC

ChrisC — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:44:59 +0000

“Let’s not forget an ages long effort to fully close the roadways in Central and Prospect Parks. If you can shut down parts of Broadway full time, why can’t we shut down those park roads full time?”

Problem with closing the roads in Central Park is buses would have to go miles out of their way to get from the west to east side.

By: aliostuni

aliostuni — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:58:08 +0000

Dave:
So you’ve confirmed what we all agree: there are too many cars on 9th Avenue. The way to reduce motor vehicle traffic (and all the negatives it brings with it) is through livable streets initiatives such as the opening of Broadway to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. If the 9th Avenue bike lane is extended uptown (a dire need), the traffic calming will help reduce the issues with cars you’re currently experiencing.
I found it very strange that you differentiated “pedestrians” and the “people who live in the areas”. How do the people in the neighborhood get home?
I can’t wait until some of these improvements find their way uptown!

By: dave

dave — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:54:07 +0000

Living on the corner of 47th and 9th Ave., I’m hear to tell you that this hasn’t been an unqualified success.

Ninth avenue has long been a parking lot in the evening hours, thanks to previous traffic changes. Now, thanks to this redirection of traffic, there are more cars honking and stuck at the intersection below my window.

I guess the pedestrians are more important than the people who live in the areas that are negatively impacted by these decisions.

By: Eric McClure

Eric McClure — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:52:11 +0000

@nordy,

That’s a really, REALLY good question.

By: nordy

nordy — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:51:33 +0000

Let’s not forget an ages long effort to fully close the roadways in Central and Prospect Parks. If you can shut down parts of Broadway full time, why can’t we shut down those park roads full time?

By: dean collins

dean collins — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:18:59 +0000

ha ha – what an idiot. walk 2 blocks away…..there you’ll find your traffic jams.

you know if you take away video cameras douche bags like you go away as well.

By: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

Clarence Eckerson Jr. — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:25:38 +0000

Neil:

Cadman plaza pedestrian/seating area where final shot takes place does not have “No Biking” signs up (and to add in fact there are signs specifically stating you can ride s-l-o-w-l-y thru Herald Square on your bike – although not so in Times Square where there are “dismount bike” signs.) Besides riding a bike through extremely slowly and then speeding up the visual is one way for us to impart the space and for viewers to really get a feel for how it works. It is one reason why our films work better than anyone else’s attempts at documenting them.

By: Neil Flanagan

Neil Flanagan — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:31:39 +0000

Great video, especially the part about deliveries.

One quibble: was the last shot taken from a bicycle riding through the pedestrian area?

By: Urbanite

Urbanite — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:27:02 +0000

DOT? Many of the concepts and items you mention (chairs, umbrellas, planters) were influenced more by the local bid (34th Street Partnership) than DOT. Just making sure they get a bit of credit as well.
Thanks for the post!

By: Mike Epstein

Mike Epstein — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:01:30 +0000

What, no Zozo?

By: Mike Lydon

Mike Lydon — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:51:25 +0000

It seems that NYC is rightfully asserting itself as the livability leader it should be. Such decisions, as demonstrated in this film, spur innovation and improve livability, which breeds only more of the same. This is exactly the reason why I am leaving Miami for NYC in September.

By: justanotherblogger

justanotherblogger — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:33:30 +0000

Subtitles would be great, not all of us have access to sound. Otherwise, looks like a good video!

By: Design New Haven

Design New Haven — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:46:11 +0000

Fantastic film!

By: tps12

tps12 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:30:26 +0000

Has there been any attempt by, e.g., the NY Post to walk back any of their hysterical demagoguery leading up to the changes?

By: gecko

gecko — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:22:24 +0000

Powerful!

By: let the sunshine in

let the sunshine in — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:17:48 +0000

If you build it they will come. If you take it away they will go away.

We just need more people who understand this. Hopefully people will begin to understand and leave the car at home, or not buy one in the first place.

Fighting Carmaggeddon is karma-getting. NYC is on the right path.

By: Lars

Lars — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:45:44 +0000

People that understand traffic knew this would be a success all along. It is up to all of us to convince everyone else who still doubt its merits or are passing along wrong information to turn the tide to make future projects easier (and more bountiful!)

By: jwb

jwb — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:39:09 +0000

I love this film for its adamant narration, with just a hint of gloating undertone