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A Walk in the Park (Avenue)by Sandy Ikeda
Last Monday the Sun reported another attempt by the Mayor to Europeanize NYC — not that there's anything wrong with that. He has proposed closing a 5-mile stretch of road (though the New York Times measures it at 6.9 miles) to cars and trucks, from Centre Street in Lower Manhattan and then along Park Avenue up to 72nd Street, for three Saturdays — August 9, 16, and 23 — from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for bicyclists and pedestrians. Certain interactive activities, including yoga, could be permitted in the public space in New York, the source said, but planners want to avoid a "funnel cake" carnival atmosphere that is common in many of the city's street fairs. Vendors must be licensed and would be restricted to selling on the sidewalks along the route. Some businesses along that route that depend on cars and trucks for customers and deliveries are opposed. They have a legitimate beef, but enough public notice beforehand will perhaps minimize their losses. Also, it's curious how most people assume that walkers and cyclists will affably share the car-vacant streets. Clearly, they haven't tried to ride or walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, where this "sharing" happens every day for example, or they might be a more skeptical. The Mayor probably sees this as a step toward his (faded) green "PlaNYC 2030" agenda. After the defeat of his congestion-pricing plan earlier this year, though, it's surely a very distant second best. Anyway, I actually like the idea and hope it all goes well. Just the ticket for those who've secretly yearned to munch on a calzone while doing a "downward-facing dog" in front of the Lever House.
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