Bicycle Network: Skill Up
New York takes car free plunge
For three Saturdays last month New York City created a car-free ribbon down Manhattan, drawing tens of thousands of bike riders and pedestrians onto the streets.
09 September 2008. Stretching between the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park, with connections to
the Hudson River Greenway and Harlem, the New York 'Cyclovia' presented the usually car-chocked precincts in a new light.
City authorities provided an array of special services, including bike helmet fitting, learn to ride, escorted rides, and bike repair.
The City opened 11 kilometres of streets to pedestrians and bike traffic only. From 7am to 1pm, roads were car-free from 72nd St to the Brooklyn Bridge, with Park Ave serving as the backbone of the route.
Reports suggest the event exceeded all expectations.
At the peak of the day, some blocks were quite crowded, but the vibe between cyclists and walkers remained good.
There is great video footage of the activity here