New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has just announced plans for a temporary Saturday-only seven mile car-free route through the centre of Manhattan this summer, under the name ‘Summer Streets.’
For three Saturdays in August, a route linking Brooklyn Bridge in the south and the Upper East Side and Central Park in the north will be cleared of all traffic to be freed for use by cyclists and walkers.
Here’s the details.
Do you think a ‘car free’ day would fly in Spokane?
I’d be a strong supporter of this idea, but is it feasible? Well possibly, especially if the efforts were focused in the downtown core. We already do this somewhat with the activities around Hoopfest and Bloomsday, so expanding upon this could be a good start.
I could see there being a farmers market, entertainment and bike activities! It would be great.
Have free bus service that day too. g
Give people a taste of not using their cars to get around and they will see all the advantages. Not too mention that this event would draw a lot of folks downtown to shop.
The suggestion of adding a farmers market and entertainment kind of reminds me of the event the City put on a couple years ago on Father’s Day weekend where people were invited downtown to tour all the new lofts and businesses, etc. I think it was called the ‘Downtown Spokane Lifestyle Tour’ or something, but it offered music, art galleries, a trolley to get around to all the different events, food, etc. I really enjoyed the event and was disapointed not to see it return this year.