Advocates Push for a Cleaner UWS

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

Pedestrian advocates on the Upper West Side have kicked off a Streets Renaissance campaign. They want wider sidewalks and protected bike lanes.

REPORTER: They also hope to turn a stretch of Broadway into a pedestrian-only zone. Jan Gehl, a consultant to the Department of Transportation, says if the city can curb its traffic and become more pedestrian and bike-friendly, locals may stop rushing.

GEHL: The nicer a city is, the more you tend to slow down, not miss anything. If there are many nice girls going the other way, you'll slow down naturally. It's only when it's not very nice you speed up to get out of here.

REPORTER: The city says it's unlikely to make the change, but the campaign has the support of the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District.

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