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Williamsburg Summer Saturdays

11 Replies

• Any idea which Saturdays?

  iain / Apr 01, 2008, 09:49 AM
• I think this is a great idea.
  
  how would businesses get deliveries? would they block the streets off all day?

  kayluhb / Apr 02, 2008, 12:51 PM
• Sounds like a good idea

  Nathan / Apr 03, 2008, 10:38 AM
• This is the beginning of taking over the streets. To make Bedford car free every day is the main goal. Every neighborhood should have a car free street. All the restaurants and coffee shops should have large outdoor spaces. There should be outdoor markets and a bike line. Plenty of plants/trees and benches maybe even cobblestones

  holm / Apr 10, 2008, 05:38 PM
• if transportation alternatives isn't already involved in this, they should be. this type of pro-pedestrian action is what they do best. see the web address, http://www.transalt.org/ , for more info.

  BC / Apr 11, 2008, 11:05 AM
• We will probably reach out to Transportation Alternatives once we have permission from the DOT and other agencies.
  
  Right now, it's scheduled to be the four Saturdays in June and then continue through the summer if successful.
  
  We should find out within the next two weeks if it's approved and then we will begin major public outreach to the community--present to next community board in May, and create an information website about it here.
  
  Please continue to spread the word and share your thoughts about it here.

  Jason Jeffries / Apr 12, 2008, 09:06 PM
• I am a Bedford Ave business owner, and do not like this idea at all. I think its just another example of people moving here from outside of NYC and wanting to turn Brooklyn into the burbs. Halting traffic will not help any businesses other than coffee shops and cafes. This is a ridiculous idea that will inconvenience businesses and people who need to take the bus. But I guess if you live in Greenpoint and dont have enough money to live by Bedford you are screwed. Thanks Jason.

  RK / May 18, 2008, 07:02 PM
• @RK: I'm not sure I understand the problem. I think they're planning on re-routing the buses - which could be an inconvenience to some bus users (although they'll be a mere block away). How does it inconvenience businesses, though? Can you elaborate?

  iain / May 20, 2008, 01:53 PM
• Hi RK:
  
  This is why we are only doing it for four Saturdays. If it is truly a ridiculous idea that will inconvenience businesses and people then I will concede and it will all be over after four afternoons.
  
  Obviously, I don't think it's ridiculous, and I'd like to hear your thoughts about it after this four Saturday experiment.
  
  As for the burbs--I don't understand the comparison. I'm not comparing this to the burbs--I'm comparing this to successful street closures in major urban cities in other countries like Spain, Italy, France and Japan.
  
  This initiative is about re-imagining the public realm. Unlike many suburban examples--this is not a "build it and they will come scenario"--this is a "they are already here" scenario--you can hardly walk down the sidewalk on Bedford Avenue on the weekends--imagine what it will be like to have the street opened up like this.
  
  Anyway, we shall see. Btw--which Bedford Ave business do you own--I certainly intend for this to help all of the businesses, not just coffee shops and cafes and I'm interested in doing what I can to make that happen.
  
  Jason
  
  
  

  Jason / May 20, 2008, 03:29 PM
• Driving down bedford on a saturday afternoon is already a bad idea.

  danarky / Jun 02, 2008, 10:23 PM
• We have the finalized dates for Williamsburg Walks!
  It will start on July 19th & reoccur on the next following 3 Saturdays.
  Visit billburg.com/walks for more information.

  Connie / Jun 22, 2008, 10:33 AM