Midtown

Streetsblog San Francisco's Bryan Goebel, blogging from New York this week, came upon the scene of a driver-cyclist collision in Midtown Manhattan at around 1:30 this afternoon.

The Times has come out in favor of the upcoming Broadway public space reclamation, recognizing the need for safety improvements along one of New York's most contested thoroughfares.

For today's analysis of the city's plan to pedestrianize Broadway at Times Square, the Daily News enlisted such experts as "an upper West Side attorney who thinks the diversion will be 'too overwhelming'" and "a Long Island resident who often drives to the area [and] considers the change 'a nightmare' that will 'make traffic worse.'" Fortunately, they also called on the Naked Cowboy:

The NYCDOT commish is about to go on air with WNYC's Brian Lehrer -- at this very instant -- to discuss the city's plans for a pedestrianized Broadway. Unfortunately I'm without radio at the moment. Feel free to supply running commentary.

For more detail on New York City's plan to turn Broadway into pedestrian-priority street from Columbus Circle to Madison Square, here is the Department of Transportation's presentation:

New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan unveiled plans to pedestrianize a large swath of Broadway in Midtown Manhattan at a small briefing in City Hall this morning. Intended to improve motor vehicle traffic flow, enhance safety and provide more and better public space to pedestrians, the plan seeks to solve what Sadik-Khan called a "problem hidden in plain sight for 200 years."

Here's a first look at Herald Square with a pedestrianized Broadway, part of a plan reported by the Times, Daily News and Post this morning. Starting as soon as this spring, Broadway will turn pedestrian-only from 47th Street to 42nd Street, and on a two-block stretch on each side of 34th Street. The rest of Broadway from Columbus Circle to Madison Square will get boulevard treatment similar to the changes implemented on an eight-block stretch last summer. Auto traffic will be permitted at cross streets.

A tipster sends in these shots of police -- again -- and trucks -- again -- parked in the 34th Street Select Bus Service lane. Looks like the city's Botts' Dots are more soft than barrier.

Details are vague, but it looks like we can add book publisher HarperCollins to the list of New York companies providing bike parking. This office memo came in today over the tipwire: