Times Square in New York will remain pedestrian

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Broadway, the famous New York avenue, will remain pedestrianized at the level of the district of Times Square after a year-long experiment, announced Thursday the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg.

“We’ve had great reviews and had our own success on Broadway,” the mayor joked at a press conference, referring to the city’s musical theater district.

Since last year, the municipality has carried out an experiment consisting in closing the avenue to cars to deliver it to pedestrians, installing seats there to the delight of tourists. A big change for this district, prone to traffic jams and roads overloaded with visitors.

Studies cited by the mayor show that the experiment has been successful with New Yorkers and reduced traffic accidents in midtown Manhattan, while improving traffic.

“It may be surprising,” Bloomberg admitted, “that closing streets improves traffic, but it is what is happening.”

According to Transport Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, the originator of this idea, “with this public square, we are recreating the heart of New York”.

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