The NYC DOT has never designed a good Slow Zone. The Copenhagen City architect looked at New York's protected bike lane standard and said, "We would not do it like that in København!" All the best new streets in NYC were built by BIDs.
Will Norman, Commissioner of Walking and Cycling in London, says, "You won't see many bumpouts here. We don't like them."
The DOT has created some great Tactical Urbanism like 34th Street and Madison Square. But they are still heavy-handed. Madison Square might be the best Tactical Urbanism in the US, but it is not good long-term urbanism, and it has been there 17 years.
I think raised sidewalks would be another great tool to delineate between thoroughfare roads and LTNs. They would slow cars down and create a more drastic “line in the sand.”
I’ve been using my own moniker, Pedestrian Priority Zone, having no idea the term LTN existed. Better late than never to the party.
"Meanwhile, less than half of NYC households and fewer than a quarter of households in Manhattan own a car - suggesting that out-of-towners benefit while residents pay the costs." Such a great insight!^ And love the opportunities you've presented. I moved to NYC because of it's walkability, and I hope the city continues to improve walkability and every day safety.
Such a cool set of opportunities here! I wish my neighborhood could have less traffic, and more space for people to calmly enjoy the urban outdoors. I've seen other cities, like London and Barcelona, do some great things in this space. Hope NYC can do more too.
The NYC DOT has never designed a good Slow Zone. The Copenhagen City architect looked at New York's protected bike lane standard and said, "We would not do it like that in København!" All the best new streets in NYC were built by BIDs.
Will Norman, Commissioner of Walking and Cycling in London, says, "You won't see many bumpouts here. We don't like them."
The DOT has created some great Tactical Urbanism like 34th Street and Madison Square. But they are still heavy-handed. Madison Square might be the best Tactical Urbanism in the US, but it is not good long-term urbanism, and it has been there 17 years.
Today in Streetsblog: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/12/08/no-better-place-mamdani-must-pedestrianize-financial-district
I think raised sidewalks would be another great tool to delineate between thoroughfare roads and LTNs. They would slow cars down and create a more drastic “line in the sand.”
I’ve been using my own moniker, Pedestrian Priority Zone, having no idea the term LTN existed. Better late than never to the party.
"Meanwhile, less than half of NYC households and fewer than a quarter of households in Manhattan own a car - suggesting that out-of-towners benefit while residents pay the costs." Such a great insight!^ And love the opportunities you've presented. I moved to NYC because of it's walkability, and I hope the city continues to improve walkability and every day safety.
Such a cool set of opportunities here! I wish my neighborhood could have less traffic, and more space for people to calmly enjoy the urban outdoors. I've seen other cities, like London and Barcelona, do some great things in this space. Hope NYC can do more too.