Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Mark Gorton

Times Square is Still A Mammoth S#!+show — But NYC Can Learn from London

A common scene in Times Square — pedestrians crammed into tight space, while drivers rule the road. Photo: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

New York has done a world of good in Times Square — where a large pedestrian plaza offers respite from cars, and a place to sit, pause or meet friends.

But just outside the pedestrian zone is a total mess, especially just before and just after Broadway performances. Side streets are a constant cacophony of noise and unending gridlock with crowds pushed off inadequate sidewalks.

It is, in short, what Streetsblog calls #DeblasiosChaos.

It doesn't have to be this way, of course. We could easily have a network of slow pedestrian-priority avenues or completely car-free streets surrounding the theater district and leading to Times Square. The solution is very simple: give more road space to the people using the streets the most (pedestrians) and stop allowing car-drivers to park and clog the roadways. It should be an easy decision by the city.

In this film, Streetsblog Publisher Mark Gorton walks around Times Square and is appalled — and he talks about how London's theater district provides a model for how we could solve this problem.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Gale’s A-Blowin’: Brewer Abandons Daylighting Bill After Push By Parking-First DOT

DOT's anti-daylighting "scare tactics" have peeled off Council Member Gale Brewer, who says the policy will gobble up too many parking spots.

September 29, 2025

Scofflaws Beware! Hoboken to Launch Automated Parking Enforcement

New York City should take note of what is going on in a city that has not had a traffic fatality since 2017.

September 29, 2025

Out Of Focus: MTA Slow-Walking Bike Lane Bus-Mounted Camera Enforcement

It's unclear if the MTA has any plans to pilot bus-mounted camera enforcement of drivers parked in bike lanes, despite its past commitments to doing so.

September 29, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Eric Rolled Edition

Mayor Adams is no longer running for re-election. Plus more news.

September 29, 2025
See all posts