The planned revival of Open Streets on West End Avenue is the work of two area residents who met during the initial run which started in May, but which the DOT terminated in November without explanation.
The return of Open Streets was initially going to begin Saturday, December 12, but has been indefinitely delayed due to inclement weather in the forecast.
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The streets included have also been changed. The original stretch was from 87th to 96th Streets. Now the roadbed on West End Avenue from 88th to 95th Street will be ‘open,’ providing pedestrians and cyclists greater social distancing options during the COVID-19 crisis. The change was made to make way for bus travel.
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The WEA Open Street Community Coalition ran a survey over the summer that collected over 460 responses with 60% of people wanting to keep Open Streets year-round, while 25% wanted the program ended. More than half of the respondents said they would promote the program to their friends.
The program was initially met with mixed emotions and some confusion. Some people felt it wasn’t being utilized enough. The NYPD was supposed to be monitoring the barriers, but officers weren’t always around; so drivers would move, even knock the barriers down to get through. Clearer signage was noted as a necessity as a West Side Highway exit is nearby, and people not from the area might not be aware of what’s taking place. Others rejoiced in having a new open space to walk through and play in during the peak of the pandemic’s first wave.
photo by Andrea Herwitt
Recognizing the challenges while seeing lots of potential for a program still in its infancy, the organizers of Open Streets’ revival reached out to NY Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, who penned a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio to bring it back to the Upper West Side. In less than a month, they’re seeing progress towards a new start date.
Speaking about Open Streets with the Eliopoulos family from West 71st Street, husband and father James Eliopoulos, 51, told ILTUWS that he thinks “there are many drivers including [himself], taxis and Ubers who don’t see signs for the [Open Streets] and drive through them as [he] did. Great idea, better PR needed.”
Mother and wife, Rosie Eliopoulos, 47, shared similar sentiments on the need for better signage and PR. “It definitely gives everyone a chance to get outside and enjoy the neighborhood and the weather, having some space and being able to see their neighbors and friends, even if at a distance.” Their 9 year old son Benjamin said he thinks “it’s good and bad because there will be less pollution from less cars but there will also not be as much social distancing.”
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Another commented that “It seemed ridiculous, but understandable in the warmer weather, but now that the weather is getting cooler those 3 people that are walking can walk on the sidewalk just as well. If I sound like a disgruntled car owner, I am. Now i can freely drive around looking for a parking space.”
The WEA Open Street Community Coalition created a Volunteer Sign-Up form asking for volunteers to set up and maintain the barriers during the planned operating hours of 10am-4pm on weekends. The NYPD will no longer be monitoring the streets. Organizers are seeing if the community will come together to support the cause if they care about it staying this time. While a start date is still TBD, the form is still live in case it is announced soon.
One of the organizers discussed the various types of activations which could be launched within the re-launched, pedestrian-only stretch of West End Avenue. Beginning March 1, they indicated that popup art and music events may be hosted, and the survey saw a lot of interest in food-related events. While this is not currently on the agenda, we’re told it could be possible down the line.
I couldn’t possibly care less about disgruntled car owners complaining. This is Manhattan. If you want an easy-going car experience, go live in the suburbs.
Exactly. This is manhattan. It’s the city. It’s busy. Lol. You clearly aren’t an original New Yorker. What you’re describing you want is the suburbs LOL. So contradicting.
I hope open streets is delayed until warm weather returns. Cold weather will limit the number of people walking the Avenue and are an inconvenience to non-walkers/drivers. Also as cars exit from WSH onto 95th Street, it’s confusing and dangerous as they look to turn south on WEA.
Closing WEA has caused insane traffic on Riverside Drive, very hazardous to pedestrians entering the park. Go walk in the park, one block away. You don’t get to close streets for your own personal promenade.
Never utilized.Total waste.Not necessary.
You live one block from RIVERSIDE FREAKING PARK! You need more OPEN SPACE? MOVE TO THE SUBURBS.
Carson, you are either completely incapable of looking beyond your own wants/ needs or myopic in your understanding of the needs of others. There are people who need cars to get to Long Island or Rockland County for aging parents ((little access without a car to many areas of each).Others whose work requires them to travel, artists and shop owners who need to transport materials, elderly and handicapped, and parents with special needs children who cannot use public transportation among others. There are more Citibikes than are EVER needed and many bike riders who ignore traffic lights and even street direction.
West End has wide sidewalks. In addition there is a beautiful park a block away. Broadway becomes extremely congested when WE is closed to traffic. At the height of the Covid last spring, ambulances were constantly using WE to get to Mt Sinai West. Where will they go , as the second wave progresses? Broadway- complete gridlock, Amsterdam goes the wrong way. Would you have them go down Columbus because you want to play in the street? Take a hike over one block and use the park so the ambulances can get there and save lives. Many city dwellers need cars. Who are you to tell them where to live? A self -absorbed bike rider I suspect.
I totally agree. Closing WEA just for the pleasure of a few who don’t want to walk ONE block to Riverside block is beyond elite and arrogant. I’ll tell you where the traffic was diverted. Onto Riverside, where I live. Honking, gridlock, accidents which I witnessed due to this ridiculous, entitled decision to close WEA. It’s NOT just about you! Think about your neighborhood as a whole.
INCREDIBLY ACCURATE AND WELL SAID KATHY ??
Ok Kathy, last time I checked this initiative does not ban people from owning cars in the neighborhood. Neither does it even restrict any cars from driving down the street. Ambulances are still completely free to use West End, as are all other cars. Funny you talk about self-absorbed when car owners are the minority in this area, so spare me.
Four barriers have been placed at the northeastern corner of every intersection in the new zone.
In the past one lane was blocked and now both will be.
Meaning every emergency vehicle coming up or down the Avenue will have to either stop TWICE at every intersection or blow through the barriers.
Not smart.
Not going to work.
WEA is the widest Avenue with the most commodious sidewalks and the least pedestrian traffic of any on the UWS.
It’s every New Yorkers dream to live on a block that has no car traffic. But in NYC – that’s a mews, not an Avenue. Closing WEA for “recreation” – ONE BLOCK FROM 250 ACRE RIVERSIDE PARK – is selfishness on steroids.
Every other Avenue on the UWS is more congested during COVID – increased vehicular traffic, truck deliveries, outdoor dining and retail to keep businesses afloat and essential workers employed, major construction projects up and down Broadway.
You want “food related events”? Walk a block or two to the east and support your local, endangered restaurants. Need to build community? The UWS has plenty of organizations that could use your support.
Every New Yorker’s heart hurts at the sound of yet another ambulance siren. But diverting them from WEA during this pandemic so’s you can play badminton in the street in front of your home is Nimbyism that borders on the criminal.
It’s confusing and dangerous. Cars need to drive on WEA to drop people off who live on the blocks that cross WEA. Not safe to have the cars zig zagging around barricades and people in the middle of the street. This is a ridiculous idea for all the aforementioned reasons, and even more ridiculous with the cold weather approaching.
I used and enjoyed the closed-off West End Avenue every day even though I live just across the street from Riverside Park. The park has been very crowded throughout the Covid crisis, and bike riders and skateboarders make the park a much less pleasant walk than the carless West End Avenue which is wide enough to accommodate bikers and skateboarders — along with people who brought lawn chairs and enjoyed sitting in socially distanced clusters with friends (including at least one book club), people wheeling strollers, wheelchair users, and people like me seeking a pleasant place to walk my dogs. The biggest problem with the West End close-off was scofflaw car drivers. Many of them drove along the avenue at high speed. My suggestion is that, in addition to the police barricades at the end of the blocks, at least one set of additional barricades be set up mid-block to force drivers looking for parking to slow down and discourage non-local traffic altogether.
getting to see the city from a different perspective is beautiful. appreciate the work of those who brought this back. thank you.
Totally unnecessary to close West End Ave!
See no purpose to it whatsoever. Can’t imagine this beautiful street filled with pop up art, music and FOOD!!!
This is a quiet residential street. Leave it that way please.
Adding a voice to the ‘stop the insanity’ comments here.
Thanks neighbors for the consideration.
If you really want to make an impact: Close Amsterdam and Columbus, divert all traffic on to the two lane/two way WEA. This will provide all the commerce on Columbus, and Amsterdam the outdoor space they need to distance, remain open, and keep the UWS, the UWS! WEA will provide almost the same number of uptown/downtown lanes as Col, and Ams. Imagine how glorious it would be to walk the Ams./Col. corridor with no traffic??
I’m starting the “Community Coalition for WEA Throughway”. We’ll organize, sign a petition, call Helen, send letter to Mayor, and get that traffic moved to WEA. All weekend, every weekend. Perfect !
Closing WEA for the privileged few is absurd. Clearly not born & raised NYers. Go to Central Park or Riverside Park both of which is always beautiful any time of year. Don’t be so lazy & walk a few blocks. No cars, free to go anywhere w/o obstructions or any danger to anyone. Tired of people who think this is a small city like Boulder, CO where you can easily pull off a stunt like this. For that matter tired of all these Citibike people riding on the sidewalks because the city refuses to enforce any kind of regulation on them. They should be in the park too. Stop whining UW siders & take your kids to the park, or move to Montana.
Sorry old fogeys, change is coming.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/17/nyregion/nyc-open-streets.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage