Skip to content

Flashback Friday: ReMOOOve the Barricades!

Clarence has been unearthing old footage from the Streetfilms vault this summer in preparation for Transportation Alternatives' 40th anniversary bash. This week's installment takes us back to the end of 1997, when the Giuliani administration and NYPD erected pedestrian barricades in Midtown, preventing people from crossing major avenues to make way for turning traffic. TA's protest got covered on all seven local newscasts, but Giuliani went ahead and made the barricades permanent. They remain to this day.

Clarence has been unearthing old footage from the Streetfilms vault this summer in preparation for Transportation Alternatives’ 40th anniversary bash. This week’s installment takes us back to the end of 1997, when the Giuliani administration and NYPD erected pedestrian barricades in Midtown, preventing people from crossing major avenues to make way for turning traffic. TA’s protest got covered on all seven local newscasts, but Giuliani went ahead and made the barricades permanent. They remain to this day.

Before you hit play, guess which network led off its segment by proclaiming that “jaywalking is dangerous, slows down ambulances, and is downright rude.” Hint: It’s kind of surprising.

Photo of Ben Fried
Ben Fried started as a Streetsblog reporter in 2008 and led the site as editor-in-chief from 2010 to 2018. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with his wife.

Read More:

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog New York City

DOT Reveals Plan to Fill Infamous Bike Lane Gap on Ashland Place

June 4, 2026

Cops Are Writing More Parking Tickets Citywide — But Failing Badly In Manhattan’s Placard Zone

June 4, 2026

‘Seventh’ Heaven: Four Candidates to Succeed Rep. Nydia Velazquez Court Streetsblog Readers

June 4, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines: Is This Election Season Or Not Edition

June 4, 2026

Manhattan Community Board Backs Mamdani’s W. 72nd Street Bike Lane

June 3, 2026
See all posts