Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Fixing the Great Mistake

Streetfilms: Fixing the Great Mistake of Planning for Cars

FTGMlogo4web
false

"Fixing the Great Mistake" is a new Streetfilms series that
examines what went wrong in the early part of the 20th century, when
our cities began catering to the automobile, and how those decisions
continue to affect our lives today.

In
this episode, Transportation Alternatives director Paul Steely White
shows how planning for cars drastically altered Park Avenue. Watch and
see what Park Avenue used to look like, how we ceded it to the
automobile, and what we need to do to reclaim the street as a space
where people take precedence over traffic.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Budget Crunch: Advocates Push Mamdani For Massive Fair Fares Expansion

The expansion would offer free transit on the subway and bus for people making up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which is not a lot.

February 5, 2026

AV Snub: School Bus Drivers Close The Doors On Autonomous Vehicles

School bus drivers are joining the chorus of opposition to a possible statewide expansion of Waymo, but it could be too late.

February 5, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines: Menin to the Rescue Edition

Al fresco is back on the menu, Council Speaker Julie Menin said on Wednesday. Plus more news.

February 5, 2026

Commentary: US DOT’s Misguided War on Bikeways

"European genes do not produce some kind of innate affinity for human-powered mobility — [and] people on any continent will use bike infrastructure if it is safe."

February 5, 2026

City Council to Bring Back Year-Round Outdoor Dining After Adams-Era Decimation

New Council Speaker Julie Menin wants to scrap Adams-era rules that shrunk the program to just 400 approved locations from a pandemic era high of 8,000.

February 4, 2026
See all posts