The New York Times reports:

In a surprising reshaping of the urban landscape, the city is creating a public esplanade along a portion of one of its most prominent streets, Broadway in Midtown, setting aside the east side of the roadway for a bicycle lane and a pedestrian walkway with cafe tables, chairs, umbrellas and flower-filled planters.

The esplanade, which the city is calling Broadway Boulevard, will run from 42nd Street to Herald Square. Scheduled to open in mid-August, it will change that section of Broadway from a four-lane to a two-lane street.
…
Other recent initiatives from the Transportation Department include banning cars on Park Avenue on three Saturdays in August and exploring a bicycle-sharing program.

Although some people seem to be up in arms about this, I’m all for more people walking space in the city. Heck, I’d be happy if they closed all the streets down and let bikes and pedestrians roam free.

Could be NYC’s answer to the Champs-Elysee…

Good or bad on Bloomberg?

Thanks to the BSB for the link.

UPDATE: Here they are working on Broadway near 23rd Street…could the esplanade stretch even further than we first thought?