I Bike NY

With car-free Times Square approaching its one month anniversary, I thought it would be a good time to link to the media coverage of the project.  Overall, it seems the reaction of the press and the public has been pretty positive.  Tourists and locals alike are enjoying the novelty of the new space, even though it is still raw and unfinished.  Taxi and delivery truck drivers had obvious complaints, emergency response workers had concerns, and local businesses were not sure if the closing would be a blessing or a curse.  The beach chairs underwent excessive scrutiny, and a few cranky critics called it a “Bloomberg vanity project”, which it most certainly is not.

This project was obviously going to be controversial, and I think the Mayor showed great leadership by trusting the recommendation of his Transportation Commissioner.  As the clear favorite for reelection, the Mayor had more to lose than to gain by closing Broadway just months before the vote.  If this project had caused serious traffic problems and paralyzed the city, it would have been an embarassing failure, and could actually have cost him the election.  I think its another example of him putting politics aside, trusting the right people, and making the decision based on what is best for the city.  Anyway, below are links to the local coverage of the Times Square closure.  Enjoy…

May 24th:

NY Times: People flood the space minutes after the closure.

May 25th:

Daily News: Taxi drivers think its stupid. Business owners are cautiously optimistic.

NPR: Audio interview with transportation writer Matt Dellinger.

Huffington Post: New York’s love hate relationship with cars, and car-free Broadway.

NY Times Architecture Review: New design needs to “reflect the urban toughness of the city”.

May 26th:

Post: Street performers, sun bathers, and pedicabs rejoice.  But cab and truck drivers revolt.

NY1: Video of Times Square loungers and loathers.

NY Times CityRoom Blog: The debate rages on in the comments section.

Daily News: Hope Cohen applauds the project and would like to see Broadway closed from Columbus Circle to Union Square.

May 27th:

Streetsblog’s editor shares his experience of car-free Times Square and puts the closure in the context of the greater livable streets movement.

The Post ran three articles on the 27th:

1. “Smooth Rush-hour Debut” – traffic is moving but emergency response workers and business owners are still wary.
2. Amanda Peyser wrote a ridiculously uninformed editorial calling the project “ferociously dumb”.  The chairs are cheap, Europeans like it (so it must be bad), people were smoking!, and real New Yorkers must pay the price.  Must read for people that like  inflammatory drivel (O’Reilly fans?).
3. A third article was dedicated to making fun of the beach chairs, calling them “cheesy and tacky“. Uh, for the last time, they were bought at the last minute by the Times Square Alliance and were a temporary gesture, not a permanent treatment.

News: Truck drivers complain about the loss of curbside delivery, but woman says “New Yorker’s can get used to anything and everything.”

May 28th:

Post: Broadway closure causes business boom for street vendors and naked cowboys.

May 29th:

AnimalNewYork: Video of “real New Yorkers” enjoying Times Square.

May 31st:

News: It had only been a week, but the News wants the traffic data.

NY Magazine: The informality and impromptu nature of the closure has made it a delirious carnival.

June 7th:

NY Times: Funny, those tacky, tasteless, cheesy beach chairs seem to be in high demand.

June 8th:

News: Mike Lupica thinks “Bloomberg Beach” is just a vanity project, revenge for congestion pricing defeat.

June 10th:

Post: The High Line opens, wins high praise.  Post declares it much better than “trash-strewn Times Square pedestrian mall.”

Times: The full story behind the Times Square beach chairs.

June 18th:

NY1: Times Square businesses thriving, despite the recession.