Should NY make Times Square Pedestrian Mall permanent?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 5:33pm

A great question BWW is now polling.

As a tourist, I think it is GREAT! But what do you residents think? How has it impacted you? The city? Tourism?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 5:35pm

It's made it easier to walk through the worst place to walk through.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 5:40pm

I second Jerby-it really cuts down on the congestion and claustrophobic feel in those high traffic areas. It makes more pleasant for tourists and natives to move more quickly.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 5:59pm

Before the mall the corner of 7th and 46th was always a nightmare. Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. You literally couldn't cross the street. Partly because of all of the people trying to walk and partly because of the musicians who would plant themselves on that corner and everyone would stop to watch.

I love the mall. It keeps me from avoiding 7th now

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 6:09pm

Love it. Leave it there.

[kazacalo]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 6:19pm

Yes. Much easier to walk through! Don't know how much good it has done a far as traffic congestion.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 6:23pm

I'm going agree that it is great being able to walk through and not feel like everyone is on top of me. I also hated the spot right in the middle of Broadway and 7th where you could have cars on both sides of you while waiting to cross the street. I just hope they would replace the orange road blocks with something nicer looking.

[kazacalo]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 6:36pm

Some nicer looking chairs would be good too.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 6:48pm

Once they got rid of the cheap plastic lawn chairs and replaced them with cafe tables, I loved it. Please keep it! It makes it so much easier to get around.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 7:45pm

No

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 7:50pm

It may be convenient for pedestrian traffic but I think it's unsightly. Really ugly.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 8:51pm

It is ugly to be sure Jane. It also screws up an already congested flow of traffic.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 9:09pm

I've been there for the past few nights photographing. What I saw was a large expanse of ugly green street with red chairs strewn about (I don't mind them) but no crowds of people. Lots of wasted space.

On the other side of the street, there's the bumper to bumper traffic.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 9:12pm

Who the heck is going to hang around outside at night in the middle of WINTER, Jane? During any nice, mild day/evening that I've been there since it's been in existence it's been packed.

Ugly? Maybe. Useful? Yup.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 9:17pm

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 9:21pm

"Who the heck is going to hang around outside at night in the middle of WINTER, Jane?"

bison

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 9:22pm

It seems like the best solution would be to make it temporarily available for nice weather/seasonally, but that would REALLY screw traffic up. I loved having a place to just chill out in the fall.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 9:24pm

All kidding aside- of course I've been there when it's packed. And it's no fun trying to get through those crowds. Ugly crowds.No different than on the sidewalk.

So, it's either packed or empty. I still hate it no matter what and wish it weren't there.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 10:01pm

This makes the Disneyifying of Times Square complete.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 10:27pm

We were discussing the destruction of the New York Feel of Times Square this weekend on our way home from NBC. Other then going to the theatre, I really don't see why people would want to hang out there. It is garish. noisy and not really anything NY anymore. It is one giant Epcot style amusement park. Why would anyone want to sit and look at all that crap everywhere when Bryant Park and Central park are both so close?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 10:36pm

We can thank mayor Mike (Mary Poppins) Bloomberg for this monstrosity.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 10:37pm

I agree, SNAFU. So is the future of this pedestrian mall really uncertain? Is there a chance they'll do away with it?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 10:38pm

One can hope once Mike abdicates, the next mayor will undo it.

Updated On: 2/12/10 at 10:38 PM

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 10:59pm

As a long-time resident of the Times Square area, I think this is great - and I'd really be upset if they don't make this permanent. (And I also think that the aborted congestion pricing plan will be put back into consideration.)

[ashley0139]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 11:10pm

I personally hate it. It makes Times Square even more theme park-y than it already was. Soon they'll be charging admission.