Large stretches of Manhattan are being transformed into car-free public spaces Saturday as New York City holds another installment of its annual Summer Streets program, temporarily closing major roads to regular vehicle traffic.
The event runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving pedestrians, runners and cyclists access to miles of streets normally dominated by cars. The Manhattan route stretches from the Brooklyn Bridge area north through the borough, creating an extended corridor for recreation and community activities.
Summer Streets is organized by the New York City Department of Transportation and is designed to encourage walking, cycling and other forms of sustainable transportation while allowing residents and visitors to experience the city’s streets from a different perspective.
Along the route, participants can find recreational and cultural programming, while cyclists and pedestrians are able to travel through significant sections of Manhattan without regular vehicle traffic.
The temporary closures are also expected to affect motorists and some surface transportation routes. Drivers traveling through Manhattan are advised to anticipate detours, possible congestion on surrounding streets and additional travel time while the event is underway.
Summer Streets has grown into one of New York City’s largest annual open-streets initiatives, temporarily turning some of Manhattan’s busiest corridors into public spaces during selected Saturdays in the summer.
