Soon a large number of streets in New York will be closed to cars: what is the reason
'01.04.2022'
Nadezhda Verbitskaya
New Yorkers who are car-free or want to be car-free, this day is for you: the city is celebrating Car-Free Earth Day on April 23rd. Patch.com
More than 100 streets, 22 squares and 1600 kilometers of bike paths will be involved in the celebration. Guests of the celebration are waiting for music, dancing, jokes and much more.
“Car-Free Earth Day is a new tradition that brings the car-free streets of New York to life,” Idanis Rodriguez, head of the Department of Transportation, said in a statement. “Over the past two years, open streets, open street restaurants, a surge in cycling and more have made us see that we need to be more mindful of Mother Earth. And a car-free day allows us to imagine a more peaceful and secure world.”
Earth Day is celebrated around the world on April 22nd, but don't let that distract you from the celebration.
For the fifth time, New York City will celebrate Car-Free Earth Day and the first time since the coronavirus epidemic began. The pandemic has caused major changes in the way New Yorkers use their outdoor space.
Outdoor street restaurants have become much more popular than indoor ones, more and more New Yorkers prefer a bicycle to a car.
This year's events will take advantage of the city's redesigned infrastructure, officially opening the 2022 season of open streets and public spaces.
Here is a list of events provided by the Department of Transportation:
Manhattan
Lower East—side : Avenue B (Open Street), East 6 Street to East 14 Street
Opening hours on the street 8:00 – 20:00
Main program 11:00 – 17:00
- Events featuring Loisaida, FABnyc East Village Community Coalition, The Bio Bus, Materials for the Arts, The Horticultural Society of New York, Brooklyn Black Cowboys, Citizens' Climate Lobby, and DOT Safety Education
- Performances from Batala New York, Drag Queen Story Hour, Marching Cobras, and Teresa Fellion Dance
Midtown : Broadway, East 17th Street to West 42nd Street
Main program 11:00 – 17:00
- Family Fitness with Zing! and DCAS Electric Vehicle Fleet display at 40th Street Broadway Boulevard Plaza, events with the Times Square Alliance at Times Square Plaza at 42nd Street
- Family games and activities at 25-27 Streets with Flatiron BID, plus a bike ride and quizzes with The Brown Bike Girl, NYC Department of Urban Planning and Conservation workshops, and DOT safety training
- Spontaneous performances along the route with Fogo Azul
Washington-Heights : St. Nicholas Avenue, 181 Street to 190 Street
Main program 11:00 – 17:00
- Performances by Jazz Power and the Washington Heights dance project
- Sports and fitness activities with Adeusa, the Armory Foundation and the Van Cortlandt Titans Youth Football Club, as well as teaching children to ride a bike.
- Events and workshops featuring Washington Heights, Citizens Cultural Center, Citizens Climate Lobby, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), DOT Safety Education, Uptown Stories, and Word Up Bookstore Community
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Bronx
Moshol—Parkway : Southbound Mosholu Parkway, Van Cortlandt Avenue East to Bainbridge Avenue
Main program 11:00 – 17:00
- Performance by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and unicycle basketball performance by King Charles Troupe
- Demonstration of e-scooters and giveaway of helmets from Bird, Lime and Veo
- Events and Workshops with DOT Walking, Montefiore Medical Center, NYC Parks Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, and the Wildlife Conservation Society
South Bronx: Roberto Clemente Plaza and Willis Avenue Open Street at 148 Street
Main program 11:00 – 17:00
- Family Games, Bike Info & Helmet Giveaway by the Third Avenue BID
- Dance performances and master classes from the dance club Silver Shoes and Mazarte Dance
- Events and workshops with Citizens' Climate Lobby, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Conservation and DOT safety training
Brooklyn
Bed-stay: Tompkins Avenue, Gates Avenue to Halsey Street
Open air hours 11:00 – 19:00
Main program 11:00 – 17:00
- Street Lab installation featuring special chalk tools for painting and murals, plus an interactive station with Lego, Magna-Tiles and more
- Events and workshops with Civic Climate Lobby, EDSA, Mechanical Gardens, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and the New York Horticultural Society
Queens
Jackson—Heights : 34 Avenue, 69 Street to Junction Boulevard
Open air hours 7:00 – 20:00
Main program 11:00 – 17:00
- Performances by Green Tape Productions, Lotus Dance, Michael Rosman and Queensboro Dance
- Events and workshops with Citizens' Climate Lobby, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Conservation, DOT Safety Education, and the New York Horticultural Society
- Learning events from The Street Lab
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Staten island
North Shore: Minthorne Street, Bay Street to Victory Boulevard
Main program 11:00 – 5:00
- Performances by Hungry March Band, Mambembeì NY and The Dal Segño Brass Band
- Events and workshops featuring HONK NYC, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, The Glam Gardener, Citizens Climate Lobby, DCAS Fleet Management Authority, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Conservation and Safety Education
- DJ Jen & Nutmeg from Maker Park Radio to DJ on Minthorne Street
More information and updates can be found at nyc.com/carfreeday
