NYC to close 100 miles of streets during coronavirus outbreak: Mayor de Blasio

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Daily News

New York City will close at least 40 miles of streets to vehicular traffic “over the next month,” Mayor de Blasio said Monday, with an ultimate goal of 100 miles closed during the duration of the coronavirus outbreak.

The goal is to provide space for New Yorkers to exercise and avoid dense crowds in parks, he said during a press conference.
The city will focus on streets “in and around our parks,” de Blasio said, eyeing the “hardest-hit communities.”

The city will also expand some sidewalks, he added.

Read more: NYC to close 100 miles of streets during coronavirus outbreak: Mayor de Blasio

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FWIW - De Blasio resisted this idea for weeks, apparently because the Police Department insisted that there be a cop at every intersection for traffic control...

[rzemanfl]

1. That's a damn good idea.

The trails around here are getting so much use I feel uncomfortable on them and people are not observing six feet when passing in either direction.

[ffr]

2. The transformation begins with ideas.

Perhaps a model for other large cities to follow.

[LisaM]

6. Seattle did this recently.

Of course, the news of which streets, exactly, this would be were very vague - they just gave neighborhoods where it would happen - but it seems like a good idea.

We move into the street on our walks if necessary to avoid others, since most are pretty car free. However, there are still a few people out there driving like jerks.

[GemDigger]

3. A day late and a couple of thousand lives short.

You blew it de Blasio. Time was of the essence.

[rocktivity]

5. NYC's only hope now is massive mass testing

I'm glad DeBlasio now understands that while it helps to keep the uninfected on the streets, finding out and isolating those who ARE infected would help a lot more. A plan without a mass testing strategy is death warrant.


rocktivity

[displacedtexan]

4. We've already started this in a San Francisco.

And we'll be adding more "Slow Streets" in several batches. They're mostly residential, and this won't affect parking, emergency vehicles, or deliveries. We've already halted sections of bus routes, including some lines altogether, but you're never more than 2 blocks from a connector bus.
And now, if you have even 1 symptom on the increased symptoms list, you get a test close to your home.

[riversedge]

7. good. folks need walking space. kids need to run and play.

[elleng]

8. Walking NYC in springtime,

perfect.