Car-Free Earth Day 2024 in NYC: 53 Vehicle-Free Streets Across the Big Apple

This year Earth Day will be celebrated in the Big Apple, next Saturday, April 20, with an unprecedented number of streets where for a segment of time, cars will not be allowed to pass.

The plan will include 53 vehicle-free streets and squares across the five boroughs, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with locations featuring public art and community programming, compared to 30 locations in 2023.

The annual event organized by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), promotes activism and education around the climate change, environmentalism and sustainable modes of transport. These activities also mark the official start of the Open Streets and Public Space Programming season.

Car-free Mother Earth Day in a megacity like the Big Apple was first launched in 2016 and selected certain streets in Manhattan to become motor vehicle-free zones to give new spaces for pedestrians, cyclists and local businesses.

Through the support of Lyft, on Open Streets Day: Car-Free Earth Day, Citi Bike will offer unlimited 30-minute rides on a conventional bike for 24 hours. Passengers can avail the offer using the promo code CARFREE24 in the Citi Bike app.

NYC DOT also announced that it has selected four artists to perform temporary works focused on the environment along certain routes.

Behind these activities, there is a message of awareness about the need that New York City has to reduce the number of vehicles on its streets, toxic carbon emissions and seek micromobility alternativesthrough bike lanes and expanded streets, so that New Yorkers can move in a more “ecological” way in congested urban spaces.

“It is a day to remember that we only have one planet. And we must all do our part, to reduce our carbon footprint and respect our environment,” he said. Ydanis Rodríguez, NYC DOT Commissioner.

Open streets and art

This launch of the 2024 Open Streets season comes after NYC DOT awarded $30 million in contracts to expand the resources available for plazas and other public spaces.

The municipal transportation agency also announced that it has selected four artists to create temporary worksfocused on the environment along certain routes.

It was confirmed that Natalie Wood will present EcoHarmony, a group of used furniture transformed into organic sculptures, through living plants, which show the potential of nature to recover the built environment. To foster an enriching relationship with our planet, they will give away 1,000 plants.

will also be presented Kelp Paradea collaborative piece between Amanda Thackray and Wendel Jeffrey, that will bring a kelp forest to life through 24 flags made from recycled plastic bags, activated by motion and sound throughout the day. AND Lyubava Kroll will design a series of graphics Keep NYC Green for aluminum signs, installed on street lighting poles in all districts that envision a greener future for our city.

Where?

Manhattan

Route: Broadway to La Marina

Route: Calle 181 to Calle 190

Route: East 17th Street to West 46th Street

Brooklyn

Route: Calle 40 to Calle 45

Queens

Route: Calle 75 to Calle 78

The Bronx

Ruta: East Fordham Road hasta Grand Concourse

Ruta: East 188th Street hasta East Fordham Road

Staten Island

• Las Exclusive event locations and the 47 additional locations, organized by the community, can be consulted on the web portal: nyc.gov/carfreenyc.

2024-04-03 10:29:00
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