Crossroads of the world goes traffic free

The iconic sight of yellow cabs and cars jostling for position in New York’s Times Square is now a thing of the past, as one of the world’s busiest intersections has become pedestrianised.

As one of America’s top tourist attractions, the melee of Times Square attracts millions of visitors a year, who drink in the atmosphere of its legendary theatres and bright electronic advertising boards.

But the new scheme, the brainchild of mayor Michael Bloomberg and transport commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn, means Broadway will now be closed to traffic from the famous 42nd Street to 47th Street.

Although similar to many car free city centres in the UK and Europe – Copenhagen’s Urban Planner Jan Gehl was even brought in as a consultant – stopping the mighty motor is a radical move in the car crazy USA. But so far the city seems right behind the move. “It will make Times Square work like it should,” promised Sadik-Kahn. “It will be good for traffic, good for business and a great deal of fun”.
And that fun starts right away, with a mass yoga session to celebrate the new car free calm, at dawn on June 21st – the summer solstice.

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