Streetfilms: Fixing the Great Mistake of Planning for Cars
"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.
2:53 PM EST on February 25, 2010

“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.
More from Streetsblog New York City
Feds Characterize Trump As Mercurial King In Latest Bid to End Congestion Pricing
The federal government insists that you can't count on the federal government to keep its word.
November 11, 2026
Cycle of Rage: DOT Issues Placards But Claims It Can’t Revoke Them For Reckless Driving
The city issues placards. The placard holder drives recklessly in school zones. The city claims it can't revoke the placard. Come on, people!
November 11, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines: The Phantom Menin Edition
What will happen with the Council's "Delivery Protection Act"? It's up to the Phantom Menin. Plus other news.
November 11, 2026
Lower Manhattanites Call for Parking Placard Purge
"Such a system cannot be repaired — it must be replaced": Lower Manhattan won't get safe streets until Mayor Mamdani confronts the placard class, locals say.
November 10, 2026
‘Sociopaths’ Illegally Blow Safety Redesign Outside Greenpoint School
The newly redesigned low-traffic intersection is mostly successful — except for some "sociopaths," as one local calls them.
November 10, 2026