What would happen if 42nd Street changed from a gritty street full of cars and exhaust fumes to one with much wider sidewalks with trees and benches so pedestrians could have a more relaxed stroll and shop? Please try to imagine. And is it a fast and reliable route across town for bus passengers and cyclists?
Today, we are launching a campaign to ask New York City to rethink 42nd Street.
Imagine Miracle on 42nd Street and:
- Wide sidewalks, trees, and benches provide pedestrians with a quiet and relaxing environment.
- A car-free busway that connects Spirit Riders between 2nd Avenue and 12th Street in less than 25 minutes instead of twice as long.
- Protected two-way bike lanes for biking on 42nd Street without risking life or limb.
- Traveling between Grand Central, Times Square, and Port Authority transportation hubs is now even easier.
We applaud the City Transit Authority’s clear plan to improve bus transit on 34th Street, but we intend to take this idea further. Imagine being able to take a bus down his 42nd Street in Manhattan in about 20 minutes. In fact, why not all the major intersections up and down Manhattan like 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, etc.?
The 14th Street Busway is a great example of what can be done. Before the busway, it often took 45 minutes to cross 14th Street by bus. Now it often takes less than 25 minutes. Why is this the only cross-city busway?
Ridership on 14th Street buses has increased by 30% since the busway was introduced.
Imagine if there was an express busway that allowed you to walk a few blocks from most parts of Manhattan and cross the city in less than 25 minutes. That would dramatically change transportation for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers.
When the 14th Street Busway opened in 2019, many expected it to become a reality. carmageddon Cars would be pushed out and clogged nearby roads. But that hasn’t happened. Drivers have gotten used to the busway.
Instead, what you experienced was a very quiet and calm 14th Street. It is the most urban activity that also allows you to have a conversation. You can’t do that on 42nd Street today.
And safety is greatly improved.
According to city statistics, in the five months following the busway’s opening, the total number of reported crashes between Third and Eighth Avenues dropped from 84 to 42 (a 50% decrease), and the number of pedestrian injuries dropped from nine to six (a 33% decrease).
Changing 42nd Street from a passway for cars and trucks to a busway will change how it is used. No more wide, continuous boulevards that encourage cars and trucks to speed up. through Manhattan is becoming more dangerous to pedestrians. In return, the roads will be quieter and safer for pedestrians.
42nd Street is an icon
The center of New York City is Times Square, where 42nd Street intersects with Broadway. Broadway is gradually being revamped in ways that seemed extraordinary 20 years ago. Block by block, it has been transformed into something more human-scale, with seating areas, bike lanes, and pedestrian areas. We are also running a campaign for Broadway Linear Park.
Millions of tourists come to Times Square, but they are routinely confined to narrow, busy sidewalks and treated like livestock. Most New Yorkers avoid the area whenever possible because of this overcrowding. In 2023, he says, there will be more than 2.5 times more pedestrians than vehicles on 42nd Street, yet two-thirds of the road area is allocated to vehicles.
The width of the sidewalk on 42nd Street needs to be doubled. We need public seating and trees for shade. Imagine public seating on the sidewalk of 42nd Street. Perfect for unwinding after a long day of work or sightseeing, or just hanging out and watching the world go by. What a radical idea!
The entire stretch of 42nd Street needs more green space. Bryant Park is the only park along 42nd Street between First Avenue and the West Side Highway. Adding a small green space to 42nd Street would act as a bioswale to mitigate flooding and help cool the area during the summer heat. Hundreds of thousands of people live along 42nd Street as workers, tourists, and residents who would surely like more space to walk and relax.
Make a visit to Times Square such a fun and great experience that people will stay longer and spend more of their tourist dollars in this great city. Maybe we locals would like to spend some time there too.
