Northeast - Mayor Proposes Banning Vehicles From Times Square

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/94590/mayor-to-propose-banning-vehicles-from-times-square/Default.aspx

i said about time...i bike around that area all the time and there alot of foot traffics from tourists, plus bunch of crazy taxi drivers...a major accident will bound to happen...good riddance.

Here in Massachusetts, bikes are legally considered vehicles. Might need to dismount in the future.

Here in Massachusetts, bikes are legally considered vehicles. Might need to dismount in the future.

Both sections of Broadway currently have bike lanes and according to Streetsblog (http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/26/a-bold-and-transformative-new-vision-for-broadway/#comments) the plans call for the bike lanes to remain in place. After all, our DOT commissioner is a cyclist :p

I lived at the Manhattan Plaza and think no cars in Time Square would be a gift from the gods- especially if the bike lanes remained.

Not surprisingly, the NY1 headline is less than accurate. Cars won't be banned from Times Square. The City simply plans to close Broadway to traffic and open up a fourth lane on Seventh Avenue to ease the overflow. Also the way things look now it's more of a done deal than a proposal.

Closing Broadway to car traffic doesn't make it easier for cyclists that are already out there riding in traffic. It does make it easier for people who like to ride slower or are intimidated by traffic. If I had to ride through Times Sq. as part of my commute, dodging peds would be harder than dodging cars.

Closing Broadway to car traffic doesn't make it easier for cyclists that are already out there riding in traffic. It does make it easier for people who like to ride slower or are intimidated by traffic. If I had to ride through Times Sq. as part of my commute, dodging peds would be harder than dodging cars.

well u still have other avenues that u can take. mayor also are thinking of doing the same thing on herald square too. in my opinion while they are at it, they should also add madision square park and union sq. i think this proposal will make traffic more simpler...north and south on ave. and east and west on streets. no more cut in like time sq. etc.

Man, I'll miss riding thru Times Square w/the cabbies, etc. (Pic taken by me of a buddy last year while riding thru TS.)

^^^ ur lucky...u didn't get run over like this bike messenger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rWu9rMPj7o&feature=PlayList&p=BF4AEEFC996040B6&playnext=1&index=13

well u still have other avenues that u can take. mayor also are thinking of doing the same thing on herald square too. in my opinion while they are at it, they should also add madision square park and union sq. i think this proposal will make traffic more simpler...north and south on ave. and east and west on streets. no more cut in like time sq. etc.
Y'know, I didn't realize my post made it sound like I was complaining. I think it's a good idea and they should also close Park Ave. to car traffic or do something to calm it down. Summer Streets was a good start, but make it permanent and we'd have an awesome way to get up and down town.

Actually right now its faster to walk in the streets than on the sidewalks. Too many pedestrians, too many of whom are tourists who stand around and gawk, not knowing where they are going.

I remember reading this thread title when it was fresh and thought about it a few days ago...

As I think about Time Square and relate it to pedestrian-only thoroughfares in other parts of the world, I'm actually surprised that it hasn't been closed to motor vehicles already. I think it's a great idea.