The Crossroads of the World Goes Car-Free
I've lived in New York City for just about twenty years now but yesterday was my first trip to Times Square.
Sure, I've been
to Times Square before. Plenty of times. But until yesterday Times
Square had never ever been a destination for me. Rather, it had always
been a place to avoid or, if unavoidable, a place to get in and out of
as fast as possible on my way to somewhere else.
The New York City Department of Transportation's "Green Light for Midtown" plan brought me and a lot of other people to Times Square yesterday. And it kept us there. By simply removing motor vehicles from Broadway around Times and Herald Squares and inviting pedestrians in with seating, street performers, good people-watching -- and a naked cowboy -- New York City has created two great new public spaces for tourists, office workers and, yes, even jaded residents.
Streetfilms'
Clarence Eckerson squares off with the Naked Cowboy. Icon Parking
Systems, the Cowboy's sponsor, may be one of the few businesses unhappy
with the new Times Square. The Cowboy is pleased. The space is still raw and unfinished and it'll be interesting to see how it works during the weekday, but my two young sons and I had a blast yesterday along with thousands of others. Times Square is suddenly a place worth visiting and staying a while (especially if you're a parent desperate for an easy, low-cost weekend adventure for your kids).
