Car-Free Streets

A little weekend viewing from the west coast of England. Since the summer of 2009, neighbors in Bristol have organized "Playing Out" events on seven streets, setting aside car-free hours for kids to play in the street without constant parental supervision. Watching this video immediately brought to mind Clarence's Streetfilm of the 78th Street play street in Jackson Heights.

For Angelenos, Sunday was a day that we’ll never forget. Our first Open Streets party was an unparalleled success.  So much so that even the critics of the concept grudgingly came on board when it was obvious that they missed the boat on supporting and experiencing a groundbreaking day.

The first 2010 installment of Summer Streets is tomorrow, and I can't think of a better way to get in the mood than to check in on this inspiring grassroots victory for livable streets in New York City.

In Copenhagen, you never have to travel very far to see a beautiful public space or car-free street packed with people soaking up the day. In fact, since the early 1960s, 18 parking lots in the downtown area have been converted into public spaces for playing, meeting, and generally just doing things that human beings enjoy doing. If you're hungry, there are over 7,500 cafe seats in the city.

Here we are, halfway through July, which means Summer Streets are coming around again. NYCDOT announced today that the city's flagship car-free event will be happening on three Saturdays in August -- the 7th, 14th, and 21st.

On Sunday, June 27, Downtown Oakland opened two miles of its streets for traffic-free fun and activities -- zumba dancing, circus arts, BMX bike competitions and performances from local musicians. Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) partnered with the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, Oaklandish, Oakland YMCA, Cycles of Change, and other civic organizations to create the East Bay's first car-free event in the Ciclovía mold. Preparations are in the works for another Oaklavia in the coming months.

Every summer, New Yorkers face a dire shortage of tube socks. Or so you'd assume if you walked through the city's 300-odd street fairs. Though some fairs are cherished local institutions, the majority are corporate cookie-cutter affairs. That's a real wasted opportunity in a city so starved for public space. 

The 2010 schedule for NYCDOT's Weekend Walks is up, and there are 18 car-free streets to check out this summer. While some merchants managed to shrink one of the original neighborhood car-free events -- Williamsburg Walks -- down to one weekend, elsewhere local business groups are taking the lead to create temporary spaces for people to enjoy their neighborhoods free from traffic. Overall it's a big expansion compared to last year's 13 sites.