Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Eyes on the Street

NYPD Is Making Midtown Sidewalks an Obstacle Course — Where’s de Blasio?

Caught between an NYPD fence and moving traffic on Fifth Avenue by Rockefeller Center. Photo: Nicole Gelinas

Nicole Gelinas has filed more Twitter dispatches from Midtown, where NYPD continues to clutter streets and sidewalks with a tangle of barricades.

On 49th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, NYPD blocked the roadway to limit motor vehicle access. But the police barriers are also narrowing sidewalks and crosswalks, hampering pedestrian movement in areas that see some of the city's heaviest foot traffic, particularly during the holiday season.

https://twitter.com/nicolegelinas/status/938099331701379073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

As Gelinas has pointed out, the mayor is responsible for managing the streets, and Police Commissioner James O'Neill reports to him. City Hall hasn't made any announcements about what NYPD is doing. If there's a plan behind it, the public should be informed.

We've asked the mayor's office if the Midtown barricades are NYPD's response to the October greenway truck attack, and if less intrusive long-term measures -- like steel bollards -- will replace them. We'll report if we hear back.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Will Indicted Mayor Adams’s Bid to Eliminate Parking Mandates Survive Council Review?

As the City Council review proccess begins, experts say it is crucial to keep getting rid of parking mandates in the City of Yes.

October 3, 2024

Room for Improvement: What New York’s Subway System Can Learn from Cities Around the World

New York’s subway was once an international model of modernity. But it's not anymore.

October 3, 2024

Stop Making Sense: TWU’s Head-Scratching Opposition to Congestion Pricing Doesn’t Add Up

Thanks in part to union sabotage, New Yorkers are staring into an abyss of impoverished transit.

October 3, 2024

Subway Elevators are Not Just a Nice Lift, But a Basic Civil Right

Accessibility is a must-have as cities compete to attract visitors and retain residents.

October 3, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: Apples and Honey and Game 3 Edition

Sure, the Mets didn't win on Rosh Hashanah, but did we ever tell you about our favorite Mets-Rosh Hashanah story? Plus other news.

October 3, 2024
See all posts