By Scott Etkin
The end of summer is fast approaching, but there is still time to experience the last Manhattan weekend of Summer Streets, the city’s annual event that gives miles of roadway over to pedestrians and bicyclists.
This Saturday, August 19th, a route in Manhattan that runs from the Brooklyn Bridge along Lafayette Street, and Park Avenue up to 109th Street, across Central Park North, and then up Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard from 110th Street to 125th Street, will be closed to traffic from 7am to 1pm.
The program opens up the avenues for people to walk, run, and cycle. At six points along the route there are rest stops featuring tents with activities. There’s also the chance of giveaways from the event’s sponsors: Vita Coco, Cabot Creamery, C4 Energy, Forager Project, Super Coffee, Boxed Water, and Core Power Yoga.
This is the first time that the Summer Streets route will extend into west Harlem. Last year, the route ended at the top of Central Park. Summer Streets, which is organized by the NYC Department of Transportation, began in 2008 and has gradually expanded over time: The Manhattan route ended at 72nd Street in 2021, 109th Street last year and 125th Street this year.
Summer Streets covers 20 miles in total, with some space designated in each borough. Manhattan’s previous dates were August 5th and 12th – this weekend will be the last one of the season. In 2022, more than 500,000 people participated in the program, according to DOT.
Love summer streets and it keeps getting more and more popular every year. I wish they would expand it to more weekends during the summer!
Nice to see they’ve added some bits in Brooklyn and Bronx. They are very tiny stretches, though, so not helpful to cyclists who have to ride TO them. Hopefully, will be further expanding in the future. Love that they went up to 125th St this year. Now lets just get those runners staying on their half of the street so cyclists can actually ride!
Summer Streets started out focusing on pedestrians, to enjoy walking – but at this point is chiefly for bicyclists
Sorry to disagree! Precisely half the street is designate for pedestrians (including runners, who tend to fan out oblvious of all) and half for bikes and roller bladers. The event volunteers enforce this as much as possible, yelling primarily at runners to keep to their lane.
Anyone know why they stopped the Columbia Avenue ones? I really enjoyed that.
We’re looking into it.
“Summer streets” and “open streets” are different programs.
Summer streets has always been on the east side, meant for traffic free biking and walking, with some sponsored activities along the route. It is just a few weekend days each summer
Open streets is when the streets usually just a few blocks are closed to traffic but “open” for restaurants to set up in the street and sometimes people set up chairs and just hang out.
You are correct, thanks. According to the Columbus Avenue BID website, “Open Streets Fall 2023 kicks off Sunday, September 3rd, and runs through the end of October.”
My kids were really bummed this year they didn’t have the Columbus Ave open streets. Hope we can get an answer why and have it return next year.
I’ve been going to Summer Streets for over 10 years and it was always on the eastside. When was it on Columbus Ave?
Columbus “Open Streets “ hurt bus riders as buses were detoured.
Mass transit needs to be prioritized
Agree, Columbus Ave open streets was a highlight of our summer Sunday, we would constantly run into friends enjoying it as well. Hope they bring it back!
Perhaps the organizers are hoping underutilization was due to many kids and families on UWS going away for the summer? Or playing on hot black streets not too fun in summer. Maybe this helps them get better results to justify the disruption. Though the weekly farmers market and flea market are regularly packed all summer long so who knows.
Open Streets were a result of legislation passed during Covid.
But it is unacceptable to routinely close avenues – like Columbus – with bus routes and force bus detours.