greencity
by Terrance Edwards
New Yorkers lazed about in the unusual
Khan. "You’ve got 600,000 people within a
quiet afforded by the absence of traffic.
20-minute bike ride of lower Manhattan."
“It’s the most remarkable thing. I can’t
However, the event advocated more than
think of another time people have just
commuting by bike. The aerobics and
grinned for no other reason than the
dance classes promoted exercise and
sights ahead,” said Noah Budnick for
healthy living. By placing water spigots at
Transportation Alternatives.
designated areas, event planners tried to
encourage visitors to reuse water bottles.
“If you look at how many
“We’re out here for people to enjoy
people have come out and
the streets, not to put a burden on the
how many have come
Department of Sanitation,” said Gastel.
up and asked if it can go
At best, events like this can get commuters
longer, it shows how much
used to the idea of alternative forms of
New Yorkers care.”
travel. The likelihood that certain streets
could ever be permanently car-free is slim,
Transportation Alternatives had booths
but Summer Streets gives New Yorkers an
set up all along the 6.9 miles of road
excuse to try their commute on bike.
providing bike rentals and helmet fittings.
The possibility of another event like this
The group also traveled from areas like
has yet to be determined. The DOT will
Queens and Brooklyn to guide bikers from
meet with community leaders to evaluate
the surrounding boroughs to the event,
this year’s success. However, Gastel said
said Budnick.
they already received great feedback from
"We’re trying to get people to envision
the community at the DOT and felt positive
their streets differently," said Sadik-
about this year’s turnout.
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