By Abigael T. Sidi
Last Sunday, the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District hosted its last Open Streets on Columbus Avenue from 68th to 77th streets until September. On September 7, that stretch of blocks will again return to Open Streets programming every Sunday through October 26 [except October 12].
With one of the Upper West Side’s largest Open Streets newly on hiatus for the rest of the summer, here’s an overview of the program and where things stand with all of the other car-free blocks in the neighborhood.
Open Streets season officially began at the end of April in New York City. Of the 391 current Open Streets locations scattered throughout the five boroughs, five are located on the Upper West Side or in Morningside Heights.
Open Streets are selected blocks that become closed off to cars and buses, making space for a range of events and activities. Pedestrians are able to walk freely, restaurants expand their outdoor seating, and bikers have an easier time circulating around the bustling city.
Open Streets host such events as free bike repair clinics, indigenous dance performances, volleyball games, and environmental education panels.
Here are the official Upper West Side and Morningside Heights Open Streets locations still running this summer.
Amsterdam Avenue Open Streets
- Location: Amsterdam Avenue from Cathedral Parkway to West 111 Street.
- Days and Hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Type: Full closure.
- Dates: May 6th to October 5th.
- Partner: West 111th Street Block Association.
Amsterdam Avenue Open Streets
- Location: Amsterdam Avenue from Cathedral Parkway to West 106th Street.
- Days and Hours: Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Type: Full closure.
- Dates: July 5th to November 8th.
- Partner: Lenape Bloemendael DMA dba Columbus Amsterdam Business Improvement District.
La Salle Street Open Streets
- Location: La Salle Street from Claremont Avenue to Broadway.
- Hours: Thursdays from 3:30 to 9 p.m.
- Type: Full closure.
- Dates: May 22nd to October 30th.
- Partner: Morningside Area Alliance.
West 75th Street Open Streets (Currently closed but returning)
- Location: West 75 Street from West End Avenue to Riverside Drive.
- Days and Hours: Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
- Type: Full closure: Schools.
- Dates: September 1st, 2025 to June 2nd, 2026.
- Partner: Manhattan Day School.
Columbus Avenue Open Streets (Currently closed but returning)
- Location: Columbus Avenue from West 68 to West 77 Street.
- Days and Hours: Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Type: Full closure.
- Dates: May 7th to June 29th and September 7th to October 26th.
- Partner: Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District.
It is possible more Open Streets open up this summer and fall, but all requests take at least 90 days to be reviewed by the NYC Department of Transportation.
Find more information – HERE
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.
Love that picture. Sunny day and no one there. Meanwhile traffic backed up all over the neighborhood and elderly unable to use mass transit or access a ride. It’s time to end this nonsense permanently
toddlers crawling all over these filthy germs infested streets is not a good idea
Did you actually look at the picture, Grumpelstiltskin? There are a lot of people there every Sunday.
I counted about 12 not counting the security in the middle of the block way down the street about two blocks! You may need glasses “Grumpe”
They have all been packed, these people are delusional and likely never leave their apartments. Always be suspicious of those who seek to remove the happiness of others.
Yes Bill, I totally agree 100%!
I live in the heart of the Columbus Avenue from 68th to 77th streets
and in the past summers, I hardly ever see Columbus Avenue being used as an Open Street by walking public on Sundays.
All I do see is ‘total traffic chaos’ from West 77th St. on up Columbus Avenue and including the West 81st/86st Street coming and going to the Eastside through W. 81st St. and West 86th Street’s transverse’s. It is outrageous with the all day long vehicle noise pollution of the cars/cab’s/buses/trucks/vans honking and people yelling at each other on a Sunday day of peace!!!
It was a very sick idea whoever came up with this.
There’s too many things against having this “Open Street” on Columbus Avenue. You have The Flea Market at the High School playground on W. 77th St. and The Green Market West 77th Street on-up-Columbus Avenue to W. 81st St. going on and then you have the ‘street parties’ that certain streets are closed down within this area during the summer.
Just too many things going on to have Columbus Avenue shut down on a Sunday.
Columbus Avenue is a major thoroughfare route designed for high-capacity traffic, linking significant locations within our city connecting different areas. It is designed for fast, heavy traffic, serving as a key artery throughout the UWS community.
Shame on you, CB7!
It is a terrible idea!!!!!!
UWS has got one of the highest levels of population density in NYC. Its roads (including Columbus) are most certainly *not* designed for “fast, heavy traffic”.
Columbus is absolutely not designed for fast heavy traffic! Currently it gets used that way which is why there’s tons of vehicle noise pollution (and actual pollution) from the cars/cab’s/buses/trucks/vans.
Columbus should be redesigned so it’s shut to through traffic, heavy traffic should not travel through the heart of a residential neighborhood like ours.
evidently you don’t live here or get out side. I do and Billy is right what happens when they close Columbus Avenue at 77th Street on Sundays, I live on West 77th Street and it is extreme heavy traffic and congestion down West 77th Street with the added noise until they reopen Columbus Avenue. I for one do not want ‘Columbus Avenue Open Street’. They have it over at West End Avenue and it works well over there but does not on Columbus Avenue. I say we should have a Town Hall Meeting at CB7 about this ASAP.
I sympathize with you, yes the car traffic is awful on 77th, I often walk up the Open Street to take my kids to the playground at 77th and Amsterdam and all those cars make crossing 77th pretty unpleasant.
Don’t lose sight that it’s the cars that are loud and causing the problems, not the car free street. Maybe they should extend Open Streets even further up or otherwise discourage vehicle traffic on Columbus.
Most Manhattan avenues were once two way streets. There’s a reason why they were converted to one way, to facilitate faster traffic flow. Discouraging cut through traffic is creating a gated community without it being called a gated community. Its stuff like this that makes the UWS look like a Long Island that has this facade of liberal values. Oh and my personal experience on the UWS is that UWS residents can be just as territorial as Long Islanders, even the ones who likely voted for Lander or Zohran.
How does closing one avenue for half a mile make it so elderly can’t get around? The busses get rerouted an avenue or two, and they can walk around the corner for access a ride if need be.
Issue for families with kids too.
Much longer walk to access bus with a 5 year old….
You don’t know any infirm people of any age do you?
Prime example here: when the #7 and #11 buses are rerouted for Open (aka closed) Streets, one old lady I know with mobility issues is forced to walk west to a regular Sunday appointment from CPW instead of from Columbus. Believe me, that extra crosstown block makes a difference when it’s 90 degrees out.
yes ban cars and then nothing is backed up and mass transit flows better.
Every person who calls for banning cars should be forced to spend a week off the island of Manhattan in “flyover country” and see how the rest of the world lives. Cars are how most Americans get around. And cars are how many people get to NYC to visit family and friends, shop in our stores, eat in our restaurants, and visit our museums. Because much of America does not have access to public transit, no matter how loudly you scream that they do.
These narrow-minded people are why Trump wins. Because they are completely selfish and think they know everything and that everyone else is ignorant. They refuse to compromise so instead we have evil Trump imposing his horrible will on us.
Thanks for unleashing the orange monster on us, closed street lovers. Next time perhaps we should hand out MAGA hats at closed streets since these people seem to be aligned with them.
Harris was a big contributor to Trump’s 2024 win, so was that war Biden started in Ukraine with Russia. No, Russia didn’t simply invade one day.
A similar arrogance to what you described came from the HRC camp in 2016, making the theft of the 2016 election possible.
What does this have to do with Columbus Avenue “Open Streets“ I did not come here to discuss ‘your‘ politics!
I say end Columbus Avenue ‘Open Street’ I have Central Park one block over I rather walk through then just walk down a dusty filthy street that cannot offer me anything in the middle of the hot summer.
I rather sip my frozen lemonade at the Delacorte Theater Cafe.
this is not flyoveer country and why would i ever want to live there
Ah, here it comes – the open and hateful disdain for most Americans coming from the very left. Deegees of this world know better how to benefit the working class but they totally despise it in it’s entirety.
You’re insane. Fox News amplifies everything we do to try to scare people who know nothing about NYC so we should…try to be like everyone else and stop doing it? Heck with that.
Please watch your language. Period.
Pretty sure they were only referring to the topic city at hand where you don’t have to drive 5 miles to Walmart.
@ Dan V.
Actually, the closest Walmart to the UWS is over eight miles away by car..
When will the city realize that sidewalks and parks are for people and street are for vehicles? From what I’ve seen in person on several occasions, Open Streets is sorely underutilized and should be abandoned, if for no other reason than public safety.
just cause you don’t like it doesn’t mean is sorely underutilized. columbus is full all day long during open streets. i live on 76.
I saw hardly any mass of people that justified closing Columbus. All it did was move some people from the sidewalk to the street. The disruption yields little benefit.
Haha! But think of all the mess that’s made all over the streets … Kids using chalk everywhere to write ..what? and a few chairs! and some garbage spilling over en masse from the bins infront of the flea market .. Useless and unnecessary! Let the people access their M11 and M7 buses to return to their homes etc.
The flea market on Sundays is fun and the vegetables and fruits available on Sundays across from there are great.. But we don’t need to block buses on Columbus Ave.. all day.. Pointless .. Doesn’t someone do their research before this is set up?
I take pictures of those Open Streets regularly. They are empty.
CORRECT!
incorrect
How?
“They are not empty” would be the “how”
There is a picture accompanying the article that undeniably proves what you’re saying to be false.
The area in the foreground of said picture is an intersection where people wouldn’t lollygag so as to not get hit by one of your precious speeding 3,000 lb hunk of metal.
context matters
If Amsterdam is closed to 111th, then the M11 is detoured on Broadway to 120th as there is no way to get back due to the Columbia campus.
And if the Columbia walkway (116th) is closed off – then super hardship for anyone with mobility issues.
And especially impacts travel to/from Mt. Sinai-Morningside and Amsterdam nursing home.
Also apparently “Summer Streets” (Saturday August 2, 9 & 16) is scheduled to be routed:
“….along Lafayette Street and Park Avenue up to 110th Street, continue west on 110th Street to Broadway, and head north to Dyckman Street”
Unclear on bus service/access situation?
No bus on Amsterdam 106-120?
No bus on Broadway north of 110?
No bus on 110th (Park-Broadway)?
The Open Streets on Amsterdam is barely used. And not worth it. A huge inconvenience on a major through and bus route.
I agree with the ending ‘Open Street’ on Columbus Avenue, it is all congestion from West 77th Street on up town to the triple digits. Columbus Avenue ‘Open Street’ is a ridiculous idea. What a mess and you can’t get around with all the back up traffic, let alone trying to get to the East Side using the West 86 Street transfers or West 81 Street transfers.
Also apparently at least 2 street fairs on Broadway which will impact bus service nearby.
August 3 – Upper Broadway Summer Fair
Broadway (W) from 96th St to 106th St
September 20 – Upper Broadway Fall Fair
Broadway (E) from 110th St to 116th St.
Families love open streets!
Only 16.8% of Manhattan have children under 18. Unless you are wealthy or were fortunate enough to live here when there was Mitchell Lama housing with garage space for lower middle and middle income families you can no longer live here. The Col/Am BID from 106-110th is next to three fabulous parks. As Mark Gorton of Transportation Alternatives says, we need to monetize our curb space & not allow cars to use it for free. He owns a car, but can afford garage space. TA want you to use Uber & car shares; both donate to TA. Their StreetsPAC donates to all our politicians. The privatization of our streets is the last real estate land grab. See http://www.nycaccessforall.org. We have a federal lawsuit agains OS.
What does garage space have to do with families with children? Most families, herein NYC, especially middle class families, don’t have a car, it’s not even close to necessary and turns out life is way more affordable without a car.
In no way is opening up streets to people “privatization” – it’s the exact opposite
NYC is more than gentrified areas. Talk to middle class families outside Manhattan, many of them own a car, many of them even drive a car to Manhattan with their families during off peak hours. There are many families that choose not to live in Manhattan because of a lack of parking. They end up in Forest Hills, they end up in Bay Terrace or Riverdale where parking is more easily accessible and they are not forced to taking subways.
only 25% have cars. yet we are stuck in a car sewer with them lining every street. why are people without cars forced to deal with people sotring their private property in public space?
Has it appeared to you that not all drivers parking here are residents? They are visiting someone or spending money in the community. The same urbanists saying stuff like “why people without cars forced to deal with people sorting their private property in public space” are the same people that have no problem with UPS or Amazon sorting private property in public space and taking up multiple lanes to do so when they can easily afford storefront space that is vacant on the UWS to do so. Car drivers don’t have $10,000 a month for storefront space to sort private property, UPS and Amazon totally can afford it.
We are not talking about car ownership. We are talking about STREETS closed for PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. And for what? So car haters can make their lunatic statements?
No. Maybe just UWS Dad but I don’t know any real family who likes to roam hot streets with nothing but a few tables there while there are 2 wonderful park a block away.
That’s the other thing I don’t understand… Why the city does ‘Open Streets’ on the Upper West Side when you have the most beautiful gorgeous three parks in Manhattan opposite of each other.
Riverside Park/Theodore Roosevelt Park at the museum with the sprinkling waters on the top for the kids to play in and the most beautiful park in the entire world, Central Park!
And the majority of the ‘Open Streets’ offer nothing just an empty street?
Very boring!
you must not know too many families
My kids do and I know plenty of others.
Had a family at our school who with zero prompting from me listed the Open Street as one of the highlights of their weekend. There are lots of activities for kids, including pickle ball, soccer, tennis. Even just opening the hydrant btw 71/72 brings out a bunch of families.
Must be invisible families and invisible activities. I live nearby and take pictures regularly to show that Open Streets are a waste of space.
And before you jump with your usual “you must love your car” rhetoric- no, I don’t have a car and rarely use Uber.
Once just for fun I did a quick count of the people standing around in the street and enjoying the concert at Manny’s. Counted around 60. I’ll take some pics and send to the WSR tip email next time.
Cars take up more space per person so even a traffic packed street may have less people using it than the typical Open Streets block.
Josh,
Wondering – how old are your kids?
My kids are 4 and 2. We love open streets.
Josh P,
Actually no – like difficult to walk multiple extra blocks to get the bus with a 5 year old….
no one should ever have to walk an extra block so others can enjoy something different for a change
deegee,
Shouldn’t mass transit always be the priority? Shouldn’t people be entitled to mass transit?
Buses before brunch?
And in the case of Columbus Ave, closing a street which is one block from Central Park?
no
only grumpy nimbys hate on stuff like this
This is really it. A bunch of grumps.
People are not monolith categories IMO
The entire Open Streets experiment needs to be abandoned and never brought up again. Useless, pointless, and erroneously assumed that this is what the UWS wants/needs. Two major parks are available, creation of congestion around it, bus and transportation issues ,and poor attendance, should say enough to the DOT and City Council that this program is no longer viable. Actually it never was viable.
Just drive on one of the other streets that remain open. Amsterdam Ave and Central Park West are right there.
Columbus goes south , Amsterdam goes north. Hiw is it helpful to suggest using one when the other is closed?
Then use Broadway. Everyone saying “just use the parks” instead of open streets. I truly wonder why people can’t just drive on one of the other avenues.
The other avenues do have closure for street fairs too. They get backed up for other reasons too.
People do drive on the other streets. And as a result there is a lot of traffic on those streets. Which slows down re-routed buses and potentially stops ambulances.
Why is it so absolutely critical to people to have closed streets that they are constantly mentally exhausting themselves to come up with excuses to keep it.
I tried taking my kids a few times. They thought it was boring and wanted to go to the park. This is what normal children want to do.
you want to slightly inconvenience drivers who ruin the neighborhood on a daily basis?? the horror. driving is a right and driving wherever you want to is the american way.
to deegee:
As is evident, the issue is bus service (not cars). Bus riders are entitled to have essential bus service.
And clearly, anyone can go a block to Central Park .
i live on 76 and love the open street and wish there were more of them. should be every day.
I’m further uptown and I would love the open street to be extended to 96th.
It might be viable in other neighborhoods far from parks. I don’t know. I do know that nobody prefes hanging out on the hot blacktop of Columbus Ave when they can walk a block and get to Central Park.
except of course for all the people hanging out on columbus. but yes midday is hot which is why there is no open street in july and august.
Yeah. Those 3 kids drawing on the street with chalk.
Yes. But don’t forget that each of those three kids always has a dad bizarrely staring down at their innocent young child as the kid writes on hot cement in the middle of a street upon which rats roaches, street tires, etc. regularly run across.
It’s always a dad. Never a mom. The men all look the same and match a specific demographic.
The entire scene is so obviously staged and absurd that I feel like I’m stuck in a sick sci-fi twilight zone in which a group of people are trying to trick the population to obtain some larger advantage at the expense of all others.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize who these dads are. I feel for not only the community, that has to contend with such apparent greed and manipulation, but I also feel for the kids who are just being dragged out there in unclean amd unsafe conditions to be used and manipulated.
I am terrified that one of these innocent children will plop themselves in the middle of the street to play on a day when the streets are truly open… or will they run into one of the open side streets?
No matter how many of you come on here to defend this (or are in my many photos of dads staring down at their kid with chalk), it’s all so surreal and everyone knows it.
Yes, this is all at the expense of the rest of the community. But pease do not let your greed be at the expense of innocent children.
lmao what… you are in ‘The Truman Show’ except it’s a conspiracy about Open Streets? Amazing, I would watch that movie.
“It doesn’t take a genius to realize who these dads are.” – Who are we???
Obviously very evil men who are leveraging their children to deny transportation opportunities to people who desperately need to go to the doctor on Sunday afternoon.
To find out you must tune in next week for another episode of Tales Of The Unhinged.
Does this mean DOT will be restoring metered parking on Sundays along Columbus? Right now it’s not allowed through October
Doubt it now that the big red signs are up.
there are no meters on sundays anymore. this was stopped a few years back.
To clarify–there is no parking allowed on Columbus at the metered spaces on Sundays while open streets is scheduled (per the signs). Meaning, right now, even though open streets isn’t happening, you still can’t park along Columbus on a Sunday (per the signs)
There should be no meters on Saturdays either
no, there should be metered parking 24/7 on every single block in the city. there should be no free parking
I like to read the headline and guess if the 1st comment is a complaint. It usually is. I guessed right.
Well that’s good news because Columbus Avenue is actually an open street for the rest of the summer! Open to all of us!
This just causes traffic congestion, pollution and major inconveniences .
This has to stop
I hate motor vehicle traffic too.
cool so ban cars instead.
Apparently you are in favor of banning buses as well
incorrect
The comments section always reads out like an episode of Parks and Rec.
So bus service will be improving on Columbus, and Amazon will have space to [illegally] park its trucks on Columbus on Sundays. The first is a good thing.
I live in Brooklyn and we have a similar issue with the Vanderbilt Open streets. Due to neighborhood pushback (very similar to the ones in this thread- congestion, accessibility, bus rerouting, empty streets, close to a major green space-Prospect Park), it was rolled back from three days to just one day this year- a huge relief. The regulations don’t require meaningful consultation and sign off by impacted residents and businesses. The rules need to change so that these programs benefit more than they hurt.
Unfortunately lately the loudmouths have taken over and don’t let the majority preferences prevail.
Agree, the loud minority of drivers do their best to seize public space from the rest of us. Outdoor dining was similar, local restaurants lost tables but at least SUVs have more space to park!
No, you’d be the one of the loudest woke minority whose snarky I-know -it -all comments annoy the heck out of anyone with common sense.
Strange, allocating space to people who live here instead of people driving through seems like common sense to me. Evidentially the Columbus Business Improvement District agrees with me.
What does ‘woke’ even mean in this context?
People who live on the UWS drive. People who live on the UWS all know someone who needs or depends on a car for whatever reason, even if they themselves don’t use it. What if you don’t have kids, we should then get rid of public schools? Borough Park has Shomrim for public safety and gets city council funding for it, so they don’t need the NYPD? What if you don’t need to go to Long Island, we should then get rid of the LIRR?
Thank you for saying what needed to be said.
Some people have no choice but to drive in the city, few people do it by choice.
UWS Dad,
Closing streets for Open Streets “seizes” bus access.
Buses are essential mass transit and must always be the priority – space for brunch should not “trump” mass transit.
the buses still run.
It’s a few hours on Sunday and buses are rerouted, not cancelled.
I do agree mass transit should always be the priority, I hope you will lead the campaign with me for Columbus to be turned into a bus way during the week so that bus access is prioritized.
UWS Dad,
Ok so you’ll be committing to ending open streets and allow normal access to buses, and I’ll be committing to bus lanes – yes?
great idea
The bureaucrats at the DOT close streets and then call it “Open Streets”. How Orwellian.
they are open to people. sorry you can only think of cars.
LOL!
Call the wambulance
I live in the heart of the Columbus Avenue from 68th to 77th streets
and in the past summers, I hardly ever see Columbus Avenue being used as an Open Street by walking public on Sundays.
All I do see is ‘total traffic chaos’ from West 77th St. on up Columbus Avenue and including the West 81st/86st Street coming and going to the Eastside through W. 81st St. and W. 86th Street’s transverse’s. It is outrageous with the all day long vehicle noise congestion and pollution of the cars/cab’s/buses/trucks/vans honking and people yelling at each other on a Sunday day of peace!!!
It was a very sick idea whoever came up with this.
There’s too many things against having this “Open Street” on Columbus Avenue. You have The Flea Market at the High School playground on W. 77th St. and The Green Market from West 77th Street on-up-Columbus Avenue to W. 81st St. going on and then you have the ‘street parties’ that certain side streets are closed down within this area during the summer.
Just too many things going on to have Columbus Avenue shut down on a Sunday.
Columbus Avenue is a major thoroughfare route designed for high-capacity traffic, linking significant locations within our city connecting different areas. It is designed for fast, heavy traffic, serving as a key artery throughout the UWS community.
Shame on you, CB7!
It is a terrible idea!!!!!!
Look at the picture above, do you see Columbus Avenue being used?
LOL you just explained why Open Streets is needed in that area. “There are too many things going on!”
Jeez-you don’t expect that a block association in the very area of this “Open Streets” would have any say do you?? I have watched dozens of people opposed to this at community board meetings and watch as the community board votes for it!!. Community Boards now full of paid lobbyists. The buses must detour which is something which should never be allowed. I thought we were pro-transit??
There’s a very small group of people who are connected to hedge fund money who have captured our council members and community boards. No different than what’s happening now at the national level where in more important matters our elected leaders vote against the interests of their own constituents even when their lives are at stake. Certainly not the least bit democratic.
Exactly!!! Thank you!
a snapshot of a moment in time is supposed to define how the street is used all day on a sunday? genius point.
The speed limit is 25MPH. It was laid out during horse and buddy times.
It was not designed as, and is not currently, an artery for fast, heavy traffic.
The speed limit was once 30 mph. Columbus and 9th avenues were converted from two way to one way traffic to facilitate faster traffic. Every Manhattan avenue once was a two way street and most got converted to one way to facilitate faster traffic and reduce congestion.
“Horse and buddy” — very sweet. It IS a major bus route.
I open streets sks make sense in COVID when we really had to spread out. And there is something feeding about waking on the middle of the sidewalk. But that is a lot of streets that are blocked off
Alsl. indigenous dance performances? Indigenous to where? I completely get someone not wanting to be called Native American or Aboriginal ,as their ancestors were on the land long before this land was called America or Australia. Do they mean Indigenous people from the US, New Zealand, Mexico, and Australia? Or one specific location?it is avery ambiguous term.
Regardless, that would be fun
Why is it not called “closed streets”?
its open to people.
Ironic that the people who support closed streets are also closed minded and selfish.
Open to 2 families – you’re and UWS Dad’s and closed to everyone else.
These comments never disappoint lol. Do something nice for the community that doesn’t involve dogs and the grumpy gringes come out in troves. (Nothing against dogs. I love dogs)
I am not supportive of Open Streets in general. However, if we must live with it, I suggest shorter ours in the fall, that will not extend dangerously into darkness again. At least, traffic disruptions will end a little earlier.
won’t someone think of the cars?
I had no idea there was so much hatred of the open streets. I personally love it. If it were up to me, we’d add even higher and more extensive car congestion tolls to free up streets for pedestrian activity or make wider sidewalks.
But it’s not up to you…👎
I love ‘Open Streets’ in New York too, there are a lot of fun and I go to many of them but Columbus Avenue ‘Open Street‘ is a very stupid idea and produces all that Co2 congestion and noise of people screaming and honking horns, all the way uptown which affects going to the east side as well.
I’m not in town most weekends but when I am, I’ve seen this.
And ware “Open Street” starts on Columbus Avenue at West 77th St. I hardly ever see people taking advantage of the street being open just for people.
A Modest Suggestion: If lots of people really adore wandering on asphalt rather than concrete, put Open (um, Closed) streets on East-West blocks where they wouldn’t impede the flow of traffic, especially buses, taxis and ambulances, on major arteries. And have them on a different side street each week to reduce the impact on people who actually live on those blocks. Come on, folks on West 68th, 76th, 84th, etc — wouldn’t you look forward to this? :/p
its for the BUSINESSES that love the extra foot traffic
What BUSINESSES?
There all out of BUSINESSES!
no
Not on Columbus in the high 60s-70s where the Open Street is! Coincidence? Or perhaps the BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT that sponsors Open Streets knows what is good for business?
We despise the DOT Open Streets program, total congestion produced by the city for the – take it to the sidewalks, the playgrounds, the million dollar public parks!!!
its cars that cause congestion, they should be banned
Correction for West Side Rag:
La Salle Open Street is not happening this year. The Morningside Alliance is approved to run it but has decided not to — and to not allow the neighbors who rely on it as a community to run it ourselves. After weeks of talk, the Morningside Alliance decided to not allow anyone to run it this year, even if we staffed it and paid insurance. They have killed the most successful, organic community-building weekly event in the UWS.
La Salle Open Street was a huge boon to the community and did not inconvenience anyone. It is a side street that connects Broadway and Claremont, the least-used avenue in Manhattan, Unlike the one on Amsterdam and 110th, which is horrible for traffic and sits empty and unused.
I encourage everyone to contact the board members of the Morningside Alliance and have them bring La Salle Open Street back.