Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #19-016
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Contact: Scott Gastel/Lolita Avila (212) 839-4850

NYC DOT and Council Transportation Chair Rodriguez Announce Programming for This Year’s Car Free Earth Day

On Saturday April 27, in honor of Earth Day 2019, two miles of Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan will be closed to vehicular traffic

New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and New York City Transportation Committee Chair Ydanis Rodriguez announced programming for this year’s Car Free Earth Day. Launched by Chair Rodriguez in 2016, Car Free Earth Day converts major Manhattan streets into public playgrounds for pedestrians, cyclists, and local businesses. This year’s event will run along Broadway from Union Square to Times Square and on St. Nicholas Avenue from 181st to 190th Streets in Washington Heights. This year’s events will include performances, fitness classes, and an array of other environmentally-friendly activities. Earth Day 2019 will be universally observed on Monday, April 22nd.

“For the fourth straight year, we are thrilled to work with Council Member Rodriguez to transform the bustling streets of Broadway and St Nicholas Avenue into havens for New Yorkers,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Whether they are out cycling or walking, New Yorkers can use Car Free Earth Day as a time to reclaim their streets, enjoy the outdoors, and indulge in the vibrant culture of these communities. Earth Day next week reminds us to work for a more sustainable future, and so we encourage New Yorkers to celebrate with us on April 27th– as well as to come out for our annual Weekend Walks Program, kicking off at dozens of locations around the City starting this Saturday.”

“I would like to thank Mayor De Blasio, Speaker Cory Johnson, Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, and advocates for being a part of this great initiative, said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. “During this important event we will be celebrating Mother Earth, and opening up the streets for New Yorkers to enjoy. This year, we will be expanding the event to all the boroughs, educating New Yorkers on the importance of sustainability and environmental justice.”

In 2016, Chair Rodriguez first formed a coalition of dozens of elected officials, companies, advocacy groups and institutions to support a campaign that emphasizes sustainability and asks New Yorkers to leave their cars at home on Earth Day -- and use other viable transportation options that day. Since its launch, Car Free Earth Day has partnered with a variety of artists, performers, organizations, and companies to make this event a success. Citi Bike, a longtime partner will be offering free one-day passes along Broadway and St. Nicolas Avenue.

Car Free Day: Areas closed to vehicular traffic will be:

Broadway, from Union Square to Times Square from 9 am to 3 pm: Programming along Broadway will include dance performances, fitness classes, music performances, children’s activities, transportation advocacy, sustainability and environmental educational programming, and more all in partnership with the Times Square Alliance, Garment District Alliance, 34th Street Partnership, Flatiron Partnership, and the Union Square Partnership.

In partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society, a series of temporary art signs will be installed on street light poles running up and down the event route from Times Square to Union Square drawing attention to the local wildlife that New Yorkers share the streets with and live amongst, as well as calls to action to improve our environment to safeguard the wildlife and natural environment, which makes our city great. Materials for this street exhibition were created using the illustrations in the interpretive graphics of the Aquarium's Donald Zucker and Barbara Hrbek Zucker Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit, by Jonathan Woodward with supportive elements from the Bronx Zoo’s Children’s Zoo by Brendan Wenzel. These interpretations connect the public with the marine and coastal environment of New York City and promotes the daily actions to help preserve the City’s treasures.

Union Square will feature an intriguing pop-up streetscape intervention by the American Institute of Architects, American Society of Landscape Architects of New York, and the American Planning Association that will help New Yorkers visualize the future of Broadway, in which the street functions as social public space, privileging the pedestrian experience. Future Streets will engage Car Free Earth Day participants in an immersive experience focused on public right-of-way design. The design will feature temporary potted plantings on Broadway’s surface; an engagement booth with exhibition boards illustrating potential street designs and precedent images from around the world; places for musicians to entertain, as well as moveable tables and chairs open to the public, and grassy play areas. This rest stop will also have fitness classes all day provided by the NY Health and Racquet Club, and an historical walking tour of Union Square and Gramercy Park provided by Big Onion Walking Tours.
At Flatiron, participants can find bike programming sponsored by Citi Bike. Willing participants can learn about Citi Bike and sign up for a membership. New and existing members are also eligible for a special gift. This site will also have a range of other environmental and sustainability focused programming from organizations such as: Earth Day Initiative, Earth Institute at Columbia and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The performance area will feature family fitness classes hosted by WRKNYC, PopFit Kids, Exhale Spa and Vibrate Higher, a dynamic musical performance by Fogo Azul NYC, and our signature Earth Day performance by the Artichoke Dance Company.
At Worth Square, there will be an abundance of fitness activities including free inline skate rentals provided by Go!Sports USA and family-oriented parkour activations from The Movement Creative. Big Onion Tours will also provide an historical walking tour underscoring the importance of art, literature, and Rock & Roll.
This year, theCity Zone will be a one stop shop for all educational, environmental and sustainability programming. City Agencies including DEP, DSNY, DOH, DCP, TLC, and the Parks Department will host information tents set up in the area. The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability will also be on site to encourage New Yorkers to think green and learn how to reduce their carbon footprint.
Herald Square will feature various fitness classes including cardio, dance, boot camp and Iron Strength, provided by the 34th Street Partnership. Also, in collaboration with 511 NY Rideshare, Bike New York, and the 5 Borough Bicycle Club, participants will learn more about transportation advocacy and the proper bike check process. DOT Safety Education and Bike and Greenway divisions will also be on site to provide participants with bike safety resources. Transportation Alternatives and DOT Transit Development team will be showing New Yorkers other viable transportation options---whether by foot, bike, or mass transit.
In the Garment District, there will be spectacular musical performances by the Rockness Music and The Marching Cobras, a cultural Afro- Brazilian martial arts performance by the New York Capoeira Center, a dance performance by Ori Manea Tahitian Polynesian Dance, and lastly entertainment by the Bryant Park Jugglers
Also in the Garment District, participants can find some environmentally savy public art by Willie Cole, titled 14000 Reasons, which message is to emphasize the significance of recycling while giving discarded items new life. This installation consists of two works of art, H20 TBR and Big Drink of Water, which both use plastic bottles to convey the artist’s message. Other green inspired arts and crafts workshops will also be available by organizations like Materials for the Arts and the Manhattan Graphics Center.
The Times Square rest stop will include a fascinating walking tour provided by Big Onions Tours. With this being such a vibrant area, it has many layers of identity hidden and this tour will help participants learn about the ups and downs of Midtown--- its transformation from the center of the horse and carriage trade to present day as it stands as the heart of New York City. Stops may include: the former site of the American Horse Exchange, the Astor Hotel, the Paramount Building, the Lamb’s Club, the former Aeolian Hall, and sites associated with Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Flo Zeigfeld, Mary Pickford, and many others.
Also returning to Times Square this year is Project Dance’s annual dance festival offering a variety of local and international dance artistry in ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and tap from 10 AM to 6 PM

St. Nicholas Avenue from 181st Street to 190th Street from 10 am to 4 pm: St. Nicholas Avenue will be similarly open for the public to enjoy activities provided by Council Member Rodriguez and the Washington Heights Business Improvement District.

The offerings are endless as a small section of Northern Manhattan is reclaimed. Enter the newly imagined street space at West 181st Street to join City College STEM Institute’s team to explore robotics and computer programming. Participants can also cross the open space to climb aboard a New York City FDNY truck.

The main stage, located between 182nd and 183rd Street, will be hosted by Juan Bago; offering performances by local partners, such as Dance Project of Washington Height and Jazz Power, as well as large acts such as Carnegie Hall and El Chaval.
Bike New York and DOT have partnered again this year for a Bike Bonanza, from 11:00AM to 2:30 PM, taking place between 183rd and 184th Street. Bring an outgrown children’s bike and you can upgrade for a current size. Once again, we will be providing free bike helmets to all participants.
On 184th – 185th Street, you can try out a Citi Bike, learn your route to work with Uptown & Boogie Bike, or challenge yourself to an obstacle course provided by NYRR, Asphalt Green and The Armory. Participants can also stop by the WellCare to get a free health screening.
185th to 186th Street is all sports, all day. Participants can play volleyball with BAMESA USA, tennis with Washington Heights Tennis Association, football with the Van Courtland Titans or soccer with the Charles Soccer.
WeAct for Environmental Justice will be hosting a Swap, Shop, and Repair Fair from 12-3pm, between 186th St and 187th Street. Bring your old clothes, dishware or toys and swap with neighbors. Attend one of their workshops to learn how to reuse and repair everyday items. You can also chat with many of our Citywide agencies, Department of Environmental Protection. Mayor’s office of Sustainability, Commission on Human Rights, or the Office of Emergency Management.
Little ones will love the performance space at West 187th Street. They can enjoy puppet shows by the Wildlife Conservation Society; Bronx Zoo, as well as Repartorio Español. Participants can also take dance or theater workshops with People’s Theatre Project or DPWH.
There will be lots of children’s activities planned from 187th St to 190th Street. Activities include face painting, balloon animals, and environmental design. Children can also make art projects with the mind-blowing Children’s Museum of Art. Participants can pick up a free book from Literacy Inc and write a poem with Uptown Stories. At this site, you can learn to row with Row NY or explore sailing with Hudson River Community Sailing.To close it out, there will be amazing Zumba or yoga classes at 190th Street.

"Closing the streets to vehicular traffic on Earth Day serves as the perfect reminder for New Yorkers the importance of caring for our community and taking care to be more environmentally conscious,” said Assembly Member Harvey Epstein. It's the perfect opportunity to get out and learn more about what your community offers while also being eco-friendly. I commend the city for keeping this tradition and look forward to working together towards a more green New York!"

“Car Free Earth Day reinforces New Yorkers’ commitment to a cleaner, greener city, and shows the possibilities of one with no traffic,” said Council Member Keith Powers. As streets are opened up to pedestrians and cyclists across my district and others, I commend the Department of Transportation and Council Member Rodriguez for advocating for environmentally friendly transportation.”

“DEP is proud to once again partner with DOT and New York City Council Transportation Committee Chair Ydanis Rodriguez to celebrate Car Free Earth Day and highlight how integral, and integrated, sustainability and the environment are to New York City,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “New York City has some of the best drinking water in the nation and I encourage attendees to stop by one of DEP’s portable Water-On-the-Go water fountains to fill up a water bottle, take a sip, or keep their four-legged friend hydrated.”

“As a business community in the center of Midtown Manhattan, we are proud to participate in Car Free Earth Day, an event that we believe is an important example of how our City can re-imagine and re-allocate the limited public space,” said Barbara A. Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance. “New York is a walking city, and public space must be expanded in order to accommodate modern commercial needs and also safely provide space for pedestrians. We are gratified that DOT is turning its attention to the pressing needs for more pedestrian space and this event is an example of the possibilities.”

“The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership is excited to welcome Car Free Earth Day to the world renowned intersection of Broadway & Fifth Avenue,” James Mettham, Executive Director, Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership. “Safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly ways of traversing our great city make for amazing experiences in public spaces like the Flatiron Public Plazas and New York City’s first Shared Street.”

"The Union Square Partnership is proud to unlock the potential of our streets as part of Car Free Earth Day," said Scott Hobbs, Deputy Director of the Union Square Partnership. "With over 340,000 daily pedestrians, walking and public transit remain by far the most prevalent mode that people use to work, live and shop in our mixed use district. We are thankful to DOT for celebrating earth-friendly ways to enjoy Union Square."

“Car-Free Earth Day marks the start of 34th Street Partnership’s summer programming season,” said Partnership president Dan Biederman. "We are pleased to offer a preview of our upcoming free, weekly fitness classes. Enjoy our programming, or sit and relax in Herald Square Plaza, located midway though the Car-Free Earth Day celebration area.”

“Times Square is both the city’s busiest subway hub and pedestrian space, so it is appropriate to celebrate here incremental steps we can all take to make the planet greener by supporting public transit and pedestrian improvements,” said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance. “Council Member Rodriguez has been a leader in the fight for street safety improvements like bollards and for more reliable public transportation.”

“Every day is car free for so many Citi Bike riders already, and we hope even more New Yorkers realize this possibility on Car Free Earth Day 2019," said Caroline Samponaro, Head of Micromobility Policy at Lyft, the operator of Citi Bike. “We’re proud to join with our government partners to support this event that reclaims streets for people, promotes environmentally-friendly activities, and helps to unlock cycling’s potential in New York.”

“Clear Channel Outdoor and its employees operate its media business in socially conscious ways that work to enhance our shared environment,” said Jim Campbell, President, New York Region, and Clear Channel Outdoor. “To engage communities in this dialogue, we’re committed to driving awareness of environmental issues through the use of our digital billboards nationwide. Protecting the environment is one of our core tenets. And we’re proud to stand in solidarity with the NYC DOT to support Car Free Earth Day.”

"New York City is home to the sea that never sleeps. Our local oceans, waterways and parks are important for an amazing diversity of wildlife, the economy, and recreation, but they face many threats from human activities and climate change,” said Jon Forrest Dohlin, Vice President and Director, WCS's New York Aquarium. “WCS and the New York Aquarium are proud to partner with the Department of Transportation to inspire the public to become environmental stewards through this signage exhibition on the streets of New York City."

“For this year’s Car Free Earth Day we are excited to install a vision for Future Streets on Broadway,” said Jonathan Cohen, American Institute of Architects, LEED AP. “It responds to the threat of climate change and new transportation technologies with one city block of lushly landscaped, more equitable, pedestrian-prioritized places.”

“Like the water that these bottles once contained, these works of art were made for public consumption. May they feed your mind, body, and soul this Earth Day (without cars) In NYC,” said Artist, Willie Cole.

“Artichoke Dance Company has been working at the intersection of performance and environmental advocacy for years and we’re thrilled to be sharing our dynamic dances, modeling interdependence and reflecting on the waterways surrounding New York, at Car Free Earth Day,” said Lynn Neuman, Artistic Director, Artichoke Dance Company

“The Movement Creative is a nomadic movement studio in New York City that blends the ethos and practice of parkour with a variety of eclectic movement disciplines. The outdoors is our gym, and we use our city to make us stronger,” said CEO of The Movement Creative Jesse Danger. “For Car Free Earth Day 2019, The Movement Creative will build a pop-up parkour playground that encourages family-friendly, creative movement via a unique obstacle course that challenges balance, strength, jumping, and climbing skills. Our experienced coaches will share their favorite movement games and skills while providing individualized challenges showcasing how the streets of New York can be repurposed as a playground.”

“Car Free NYC Day shows us how much safer, healthier and more exciting city living can be when more public space is devoted to people rather than cars,” said Ken Podziba, President and CEO of Bike New York. “With congestion pricing approved, the city has an historic opportunity to create a great bike network and more space for pedestrians 365 days a year. Bike New York is grateful to Commissioner Trottenberg and Council Member Rodriquez for their vision and leadership and look forwards to continuing to partner with the City on many more days of fun and liberation.”

"A bold and symbolic action like going car free is illustrative of the enthusiasm and energy out there for moving things in a positive direction,” said John Oppermann, Executive Director of Earth Day Initiative. “Ideas like the Green New Deal have caught on because people really want positive bold change and they want to be a part of the conversation. Initiatives like Car Free Day empower people to join in and further show support for big bold change."

"The Sustainable Development Solutions Network is looking forward to joining our non-profit neighbors on Car Free Earth Day. We invite all participants to stop by our booth, spin our SDG Wheel, and learn more about the world's Sustainable Development Goals,” said Abigail Orzolek, Finance and Operations Manager, The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
"If we are to successfully address the challenge of global sustainability, if the world’s cities must drastically change the ways they achieve mobility. Car Free Earth Days in New York City are important steps in the right direction,” said Elliott Sclar, Special Research Scholar and Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Earth Institute

“Every day is Earth Day at Materials for the Arts! We are the unit of the Department of Cultural Affairs that saves millions of dollars’ worth of amazing materials from going into landfills every year,”said John Cloud Kaiser, Director of Education, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs – Materials for the Arts We donate those materials to the arts organizations, schools, and community centers of NYC that continue make this the creative city we love.”

“New York City is known for its celebration of the arts. Project Dance Times Square, an all day outdoor concert, now in its 17th year, will feature more than 200 dance artists who will present original works in ballet, modern, jazz and tap. We’re delighted to partner with Car Free Earth Day and create an enjoyable family free event for the public,” said Cheryl Cutlip, Founding Director, Project Dance

"Every day is a car-free day for the majority in our city, where less than 30 percent of commuters use a car to get to work each day. With smart investments and political will, even more New Yorkers could have the option to trade their car commute for a ride on a train, a bus or a bike," said Transportation Alternatives Interim Executive Director Marco Conner. "We're proud to partner with Council Member Rodriguez and Commissioner Trottenberg to promote New York's many transportation alternatives, and we look forward to working with them to reclaim our streets for the most space-efficient and environmentally-friendly modes, like walking, biking and transit."

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