arrow A bike rider passes a group of Queens residents marching for compromise on the 34th Avenue Open Street Afia Eama/Gothamist
When the New York City Council voted last month to codify Open Streets into city law, making barricaded, traffic-free roadways permanent, it became clear the program had moved beyond its initial purpose: giving cooped up New Yorkers extra space outdoors while remaining socially distanced during the pandemic.
Under the new legislation, which passed 40 to 8 and was signed into law by Mayor Bill de Blasio, the existing 235 Open Streets locations will be allowed to use curbside parking spots for programming, and they’ll have the option to keep the streets closed to through traffic 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, the Department of Transportation will be responsible for adding and maintaining 20 Open Streets locations in areas “underserved” by the program.
The Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs have transformed New York City during the pandemic proving to be successful initiatives allowing for New Yorkers to enjoy the outdoors while also helping small businesses. With this in mind, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city is planning to launch Open Boulevards to further enhance these programs. In addition to.
De Blasio believes that the new initiative will piggy back off of the success of its predecessor, the Open Streets program. This is the kind of thing that people are going to love because it has all the life and vitality, of New York City. All the diversity, all the energy will be on display in these Open Boulevards. So this is going to be the summer of New York City and the Open Boulevards are going to be a great example of the reason people will flock here to experience what we have in a way that no other place on earth has.