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Photo by Philip Greenberg, NYCDOT

Our city’s curbs — the space in between the travel lane and sidewalks — hold enormous potential. They can facilitate loading and unloading, act as public space, host vibrant outdoor dining, house trash containers, mitigate flooding and more. However, the vast majority of curb space in our city is relegated to free vehicle parking.

Two years ago today, DOT released their Curb Management Action Plan - and we applauded them. Today, we’re checking in: how much progress have they made, what still needs work, and how can we keep moving forward towards the curbs — and city — we deserve?

Smart Curbs Pilot

DOT fulfilled its CMAP commitment by launching a comprehensive Smart Curbs pilot on the Upper West Side with the Columbus Avenue BID. The project included new loading zones, freight microhubs, bike corrals, and a parklet, as well as partnerships with tech firms to digitize and monitor curb use. With its commitments met, DOT is now well-positioned to expand Smart Curbs to additional neighborhoods. However, interference from the local Council member, Gale Brewer, and the Mayor’s office through First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro have jeopardized certain aspects of the program. Read more about the brouhaha here.

Loading Zones

DOT has greatly increased the number of loading zones citywide, with 3,000 added since 2021, and over 600 Neighborhood Loading Zones (which give neighbors and package delivery drivers places to load/unload on residential blocks) since the program's inception. Great! But in the seemingly never-ending expansion of e-commerce and deliveries, we need a lot more loading zones and we can’t fight over every single one. And there is a significant need for enforcement…

Automated Enforcement

Even with thousands of new loading zones, if people illegally park in them they won’t do much good. That’s why Open Plans is fighting for the State to allow the City to automatically enforce our curbs. Without State approval, there’s only so much that DOT can do.

Read about all this and much more in our progress report Managing the Chaos.

Don't let the week slip away! We're halfway through NYC's first-ever Curbside Restaurant Week, and there are still three days left to explore 40 participating restaurants across four boroughs offering exclusive outdoor dining deals. From free cocktails to complimentary desserts, these establishments are rolling out the red carpet (or should we say, the curbside?) to celebrate the power of outdoor dining.

Speaking of celebrations, join us tomorrow (Thursday, September 11) at 5:30 PM for our Curbside Bar Crawl with Untapped New York in Park Slope! You'll taste your way through three participating restaurants while learning about the outdoor dining movement from our Director of Advocacy & Organizing, Jackson Chabot. It's the perfect way to experience firsthand why these streeteries matter so much to our neighborhoods – and to our city's future.

Growing up in Queens, Abu Nayeem has seen how NYC increasingly prioritizes cars. "Even though my neighbors primarily don't own or use cars, my streets cater to drivers." In this op-ed, Nayeem describes LTNs as a solution to this problem.

What do NYers want in their neighborhoods? What if a single approach can deliver all of these outcomes? Join us on Sept. 30 as we explore a neighborhood approach to reducing traffic for more livable, community-oriented streets. 

We sat down with District 25 Council Member Shekar Krishnan at The Queensboro in Queens to talk about NYC's new outdoor dining program, his favorite food places in the district, & how crucial it is to protect our immigrant street vendors.

This week's inspiration comes from Montreal! From fun school streets and protected bike lanes to green spaces, beautiful pedestrianized streets, and traffic calming infrastructure. Montreal is creatively prioritizing people's safety & happiness.

Join us and Transportation Alternatives on Monday, Sept. 15 for a rally in support of passing Int. 1138, which would bring daylighting citywide. After the rally we will meet with legislators to advocate for the bill before the session ends in December.

🚲 Didn't make the Bergen Bike Bus’ first ride today? No worries - they roll every Wednesday morning starting at Thomas Boyland Street at 7:15AM! Join this weekly convoy that makes active transportation fun for kids and kids at heart, riding along Bergen Street to Court Street by 8AM.

🚴‍♀️ Hit up Bike the Block: Queens Saturday, September 13th, 11AM-3PM on 89th Ave (Merrick to 169th St)! While kids master their first rides and folks explore by bike, swing by our table to chat with us about our campaigns - year-round streeteries, low traffic neighborhoods, and livable streets that actually serve people.

🪑 Pull up a seat on Austin Street's pop-up Open Street Sunday, September 14th, 11AM-5PM! This Forest Hills block (between 71st Ave and 71st Rd) becomes a temporary community plaza with local businesses, cargo bike demos, and plenty of space to relax. Proof that a livable street starts with neighbors who care – and we're thrilled to have played a part in making their vision a reality.

🅿️ Mark your calendars for ASLA-NY's PARK(ing) Day on Friday, September 19th! This year features a design competition for the ideal parklet plus hands-on activities to engage participants and inspire future landscape architects. A great chance to see what our streets can become when people, not cars, take the lead.

🌿 Roll up your sleeves for Soundview Park restoration on Saturday, September 20th, 10AM-2PM! The Bronx River Alliance needs volunteers for litter cleanup, invasive species removal, and native plantings at this crucial waterfront park. Free lunch included after you help improve this community treasure at 1550 Lafayette Ave.

🎷 Get your jazz fix at the Inwood Jazz Festival Sunday, September 21st, 10:30AM-7PM in beautiful Inwood Hill Park! This free festival features world-class performances plus jam sessions and children's jazz workshops (ages 1-8). Perfect way to spend a Sunday surrounded by music and Manhattan's last natural forest.

🌮 Bring your appetite to Sunnyside Night Market Sunday, September 21st, 4-9PM at 40th Street-Lowery Plaza! This Hispanic Heritage Month celebration combines everything you love about night markets: local vendors, live performances, and great food in a festive street market atmosphere.

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New York, NY 10013

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