New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg continues to be a great example of environmental leadership, announcing yet another proactive effort to take steps towards efficiency and sustainability. His administration has suggested that two sections of Broadway, one surrounding the tourist magnet of Times Square and the other the transit heavy Herald Square, be closed completely to vehicular traffic and made into pedestrian thoroughfares. Innovative political plans like this demonstrate how vital it is to break outside traditional strategies and take nothing as a given even in a city as developed and complicated as New York. Likely to cost next to nothing (the plan is really more subtractive than additive) the initiative will yield positive results instantly experienced by the city.

This is not the first endeavor of its kind for this administration where pedestrian activity is placed as a higher priorty than vehicular access. Last summer another section of Broadway beside Madison Square Park was simplified to create more pedstrian public space. The renovations were completed with enough summer left for the people to demonstrate their content with the new grid. Hosts of flowering planters, tables and umbrellas were utilized by the passing crowds on a daily basis.

So why is this really so important? It’s true that this is only a handful of blocks, but their targets cannot be unrecognized. Broadway stands as one of Manhattan’s unique streets that cuts across the rigidity of the grid creating triangular, residual spaces that have evolved into squares over time. With public, open space always in short supply, these spaces have become rich with pedestrian activity and serve as neighborhood anchors for the populace. One could argue that changes made here will gain significant notice from not only residents, but visitors of the city. A broader revisioning of the grid could result in more spaces like these across the city, challenging the status quo deference to car travel.)

Let’s not forget, pedestrian activity is sustainable. The more people are encouraged to walk, bike and rollerblade around the more they are taking advantage of the density that a city provides and its wealth of reflexive benefit that comes from so many people in close proximity. Stores in the area will gain more exposure and sell more products. Conversely, designing for cars is a cyclical, self-reinforcing problem.  When car travel is made easier more people are prone to traveling by car. As a result parking availability diminishes and congestion rises, prompting the need to expand roads and parking to facilitate more car travel. Etc… Other than cabs, delivery trucks and service vehicles, automobiles have no real purpose being on Manhattan anyway.

Furthermore the Deptartment of Transportation estimates that the change will expedite uptown travel on 6th Avenue and downtown travel on 7th Avenue. Could this be the beginning of a Broadway completely closed to cars and trucks? Keep it coming Mr. Mayor.

Image Credit: Streetsblog.org