Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bike/Ped

People Really Love NYC on Marathon Sunday — Because There Are No Cars!

Photo: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

The annual New York City Marathon reminded us again what a car-free city could be like.

We weren't alone in enjoying the empty streets around the marathon route. Streetfilms auteur Clarence Eckerson Jr. created a short tribute to the mostly empty Queens Plaza:

So many other New Yorkers were equally inspired. Here's Phil Leff in Manhattan:

https://twitter.com/philipleff/status/1059195986310905857

And Doug Gordon in Brooklyn:

https://twitter.com/BrooklynSpoke/status/1059136749895585792
https://twitter.com/BrooklynSpoke/status/1059056464982085633

And Elliot Sperber in Brooklyn:

https://twitter.com/elliot_sperber/status/1059123018050478082

Got your own? Send it to tips@streetsblog.org.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Safe Streets, Workers Rights, Crash Victims Targeted By Big Tech In Super Bowl Ads

Some Super Bowl commercials are ads. And some are warning shots.

February 10, 2026

Opinion: The City, Not Just Lyft, Deserves Blame for Citi Bike’s Winter Mess

The Mamdani administration should fine Lyft for falling short of its contractual obligations — and reward it for meeting or surpassing them.

February 10, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines: A Gateway to Nothing Edition

The Gateway Tunnel project remains stalled to allow President Trump to appeal. Plus other news from a busy day.

February 10, 2026

Queens Pol Trolls Her Own Constituents From Her Ticket-Covered Lincoln As They March For Car-Free Parks

Queens Council Member Joann Ariola mocked her own constituents in an "adolescent" and "antagonistic" move just because some people want a car-free park.

February 9, 2026

Snow Problem: Can New York City Handle Big Winter Storms Anymore?

There are eight million people in the big city. And 32 million opinions on the Mamdani administration's response to its first snow crisis.

February 9, 2026

Video: Another Way The Snow Reveals Our Misallocation of Public Space

New Yorkers barely use their cars and, instead, use them to seize public space.

February 9, 2026
See all posts