Remember way back in 2008, when New York’s inaugural Summer Streets dominated the news cycle? By the time August ’09 rolled around, even Fox was on board.

With the first Saturday of its fifth season coming up tomorrow, Summer Streets is a lifestyle story — to the extent that it’s still considered news at all. Consider today’s preview in the Times, which is basically a summary of a DOT press release.

Not that the city isn’t keeping it fresh. Summer Streets 2012 will include football, a climbing wall and the feature everyone seems to be talking about: a 160-foot-long zip line. And if you tire of seeing all those relaxed New Yorkers enjoying seven miles of car-free asphalt, a truck will be on display to offer a view from the driver’s seat. Step up and watch the pedestrians disappear!

Park Avenue will be open to people from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for three consecutive Saturdays.