NYC to give Broadway pedestrian-friendly makeover

I was happily shocked when I saw the NY Times article today proclaiming that after undergoing a narrowing from four lanes to two last summer, Broadway will soon be further transformed into a “planter-lined oasis for pedestrians, bicyclists, and picknickers.” Last Thursday Mayor Bloomberg revealed the plans, which will bar vehicles completely from 47th to 42nd St. Times Square and 35th to 33rd St. in Herald Square while adding a promenade and bike lane from 59th St. to 23rd St.

Surprisingly, feelings were quite mixed – the article quotes a few people who are dismayed that Times Square will change from the hotbed of noise and craziness to a people- and bicycle-friendly zone. Understandable, I suppose; after all, Times Square IS one of the most powerful elements in that great gleaming myth that is New York City. However – and let me start with saying I’m not a New Yorker – I really don’t see how this will detract at all from Times Square’s allure. It will still be the visual overload that it’s so famous for, with all the massive stores, all the people (maybe even more than before, since there’ll be more space for them), and surely at least most of the noise that used to be there. It will just come from people, and the cars that are a block away rather than the cars that are right in front of you.

And imagine not thinking you’re going to die when you cycle there. On my visits to Times Square – which by the way were always made out of duty and hurried through, because honestly how much of that can you take? – I’ve seen a couple brave or reckless souls bicycling through the endless traffic, narrowly missing being killed on a few memorable occasions. Now they’ll actually have a bike lane. The blocks that will be closed to traffic will be transformed into gathering spots, wide pedestrian plazas with moveable cafe tables and chairs.

All in all, it sounds incredible: New York is, in my opinion, America’s greatest city, and now it’s just going to get better. I’m confident that Broadway and Times Square will remain just as characteristically New York as they ever were; after all, there really is no city like it anywhere.

And maybe now Times Square will become a place people visit because it’s such a great place to hang out AND it’s crazy and noisy, rather than because it’s the most insane, congested block in the States.

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