Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Midtown

The Penn Station Pedestrian Crush Is as Chaotic and Dangerous as Ever

Sidewalks around Penn Station are not wide enough to handle the number of people who walk in the area. That was the case in 2009, when Streetfilms’ Clarence Eckerson and Streetsblog Publisher Mark Gorton surveyed the pedestrian crush at 34th Street and Seventh Avenue, and it’s no less true today.

Last spring DOT announced plans to add sidewalk space on Seventh between 42nd and 34th. Nearly 300 people were injured in crashes on that stretch between 2010 and 2014. One hundred thirty-eight of those victims were pedestrians -- 12 of whom sustained severe injuries.

A year later, that project has not materialized. Clarence and Mark recently returned to 34th and Seventh to show how the city is still forcing people to walk in the street, even as motorists steal public space next to the curb.

“We filmed this exact intersection to show the sidewalk overcrowding, to show how we need more space for people,” says Gorton. “And in those 10 years nothing has happened. If anything it’s gotten worse.”

We’ve asked DOT about the status of the Seventh Avenue sidewalk widening project.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Amtrak’s Dithering Means Penn Access Won’t Be Done ‘Til 2030, MTA Says

Boom: The MTA's ambitious Penn Access project is delayed until 2030 at the earliest ... and Amtrak is to blame, says the MTA.

October 28, 2025

From Parking to Park: East Side Lot To Become Public Space

The East Side finally gets back some of its waterfront from cars.

October 28, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: ‘Life After Cars’ With Doug Gordon and Saray Goodyear

Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon of The War on Cars podcast on their new book, opposing views, Turtle Jesus and potential off-ramps towards car-free cities.

October 28, 2025

Vision Zero Cities: How Istanbul Builds Subways Cheap — And What U.S. Cities Can Learn

Istanbul has expanded its subway network by more than 200 miles over the past three decades.

October 28, 2025

Tuesday’s Headines: Amtrak Agonistes Edition

The MTA is blaming the national rail system for delays on the Penn Access project. Plus other news.

October 28, 2025

Ugly Truth: Feds’ Canal Street Raid Pushed Aside NYPD, Safety and Free Speech

President Trump's heavily armed and masked immigration troops are turning American cities into battlegrounds — and eliminating accountability and free speech in the public realm.

October 27, 2025
See all posts