NYCSR has been doing some great little “Street Films” to promote discussion of how we use our streets. Some of them are up on YouTube, and my favorite is this one simply documenting pedestrian traffic in Times Herald Square — it’s just priceless, particularly the people lined up to cross the Avenue as buses stream past. Yeah, it’s a particularly busy area, but similar experiences can be had almost everywhere in New York. NYC needs street change now. In fact, Alex, I think this one’s just for you — watch for the woman with her eyes closed.
I also like this one documenting parked vehicles and their claimed exemptions from parking regulations. And this one about street width vs. sidewalk width. That doesnt’ apply to many New York streets, but it certainly does to some.
The latest film highlights the transformation of a plaza in Brooklyn from car use to human use, creating a real public space. Another thing that can’t be done everywhere, but should be done more. And the best part, perhaps the point of the film, is that it was done relatively quickly, as an experiment. Would that more of that spirit of experimentation would rear its beautiful head in New York.
I suppose part of the problem is that things like this are relatively low cost, while much-needed renovations like buffered bike lanes, wider sidewalks, better buses and trains, etc., are more expensive to implement, and just as expensive to revise or remove if the experiment doesn’t work. Nevertheless, when the review process takes decades it effectively lasts forever. 2nd Ave Subway, I’m looking at you!
by dedi
25 Aug 2006 at 17:37
The Parking spot squatters are annoying though. One guy wonders why it’s okay for cars to rent a spot “storage” for $150/month versus his own rent. I like bigger sidewalks and orderly streets. I don’t think they are mutually exclusive. Since you can’t move the buildings, you have to optimize based on use. Changing unused side streets into plazas is awesome, but removing parking spaces is wasteful (parking is hard enough without having to circle over and over).
That’s something to think about and compare when we move I guess.
by Adam
27 Aug 2006 at 11:52
I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive, either. I think that’s kinda the point. Right now the streets of New York are far from orderly. I hope that changes. Raising the cost of parking might be one very effective, very small part of changing it.
As someone who drives, you see them as “squatters.” As someone who doesn’t drive, I see all the cars lining the streets as squatters. And on the city’s dime, too, since street parking is so cheap.
If it were more expensive, it might be easier for people who really need to drive to find a space.