Summer Streets NYC

The New York City Department ofwas that it succeeded beyond expectations.
Transportation, along with other City agencies andMy only critique is that the lanes could've been
the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City,organized better, i.e. according to activity (cycling
held its first (and hopefully not the last) Summervs. running). It was challenging and a little scary to
Streets event by opening 7 miles of car-freecross the street. I had to make sure that I
streets in NYC for three consecutive Saturdays,wasn't in anyone's way, or else there'd be a
August 9th, 16th, and 23rd. Reminiscent ofstrong possibility of getting run over by all the
Bogota's Ciclovia and Paris's Plage, this large-scalenon-walking pedestrians.
event took NYC by storm as pedestrians, dogWhile there were some drawbacks, there was a
walkers, runners, bicyclists, skaters and bladers allgeneral courtesy from everybody and many
zoomed through the streets from 7AM to 1 PM -made the most of Summer Streets. As the
with 72nd Street down to the Brooklyn Bridge viaNYC.gov website states, this event was "part
Park Avenue as the specific route.bike tour, part block party, a great time for
I was only able to participate on the last day, butexercise, people watching, and just enjoying
the turnout was breathtaking. There was such asummer mornings, [for] people of all ages and
palpable wave of positive energy, and the sunnyability levels to share the streets respectfully."
weather certainly helped! I was able to take aGreening initiatives such as this will hopefully
Crunch class on the street, collect informationcontinue for years to come, encouraging New
about biking in the city, and rollerblade byYorkers to use more sustainable, creative forms
borrowing a pair from Paragon (wearing a helmetof transportation in promoting a healthier New
of course). From the articles I've read about thisYork City.
transformational event, the general consensus