What's your name for that ten-foot-wide strip of asphalt at the edges of the street?
Most folks refer to it as the parking lane (for reasons we’ll get into in a second). We're partial to calling it the curb lane, which is more descriptive and allows for multiple uses. Or just drop the “lane” bit and call it the curb.
Whatever it's called, this dynamic strip of public space is some of the most valuable real estate in NYC. And how it’s used and managed is about to get a much needed upgrade courtesy of a pilot project right here on the UWS, part of DOT’s Curb Management Action Plan.
Look at any street on the UWS, and you’ll see long rows of parked cars. Set end-to-end, those roughly 10,600 inert vehicles would wrap around the entire perimeter of Manhattan, and then some. Car storage is a wildly inefficient use of public space, especially in a dense and diverse neighborhood where transportation options abound and the overwhelming majority of residents don't own a car.
In fact, the storage of private automobiles has so dominated the curb for most of living memory, that people have a hard time imagining something different. Until now. DOT's Smart Curbs pilot is a unique opportunity to take a look at this vital public space and decide, collectively, how best to use it. And your feedback is critical to the effort!
There are two public workshops (one in-person, one virtual) coming up next week, as well as an online feedback tool where you can leave detailed comments about specific issues at locations within the pilot area. Here are the details:
Monday, January 8 - In-Person Workshop
P.S. 9 Sarah Anderson, 100 West 84th Street
6:30pm to 8:00pm
No advance registration required
Wednesday, January 10 - Virtual Workshop
Zoom, registration required - Participants can register for the workshop at https://bit.ly/SmartCurbsUWS
6:30pm to 8:00pm
Anytime - Online Feedback Map
New Yorkers who live, work, or spend time on the UWS and are familiar with the pilot area can also share their observations at any time using the online feedback map.
Curb use can be complex, and the competing demands on this space can be a lot to digest, so we’ve put together this Smart Curbs Primer to help prepare you for the workshops. It provides context for different curb uses and briefly explains the benefits they would bring to various stakeholders in the community.
Improving the way NYC manages the curb is a crucial step to becoming a more equitable, vibrant, and livable city. We’re excited that the UWS has been entrusted by DOT to help in this process. We hope you'll take the time to share your thoughts through these different engagement opportunities.
