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Car-free Times Square in New York New York squares cut out the cars
(about 16 hours later)
New York City's iconic Times Square is getting a major makeover, with city officials banning cars from stretches of Broadway. New York's famous Times Square has become more pedestrian-friendly, with city officials banning cars from stretches of Broadway.
Vehicles are being barred between 42nd and 47th streets at Times Square and 33rd and 35th Streets at Herald Square. Vehicles are not allowed between 42nd and 47th streets at Times Square and 33rd and 35th Streets at Herald Square.
City officials say the move will reduce pollution and pedestrian accidents and ease traffic flow in the area known as "crossroads of the world". Officials say the move will reduce pollution and pedestrian accidents and ease traffic flow in the area known locally as "crossroads of the world".
Pedestrian plazas will provide shoppers and tourists with a place to relax. Pedestrian plazas are giving shoppers and tourists a place to relax.
Barriers along parts of Broadway were put in place late on Sunday, with official celebrations of the new car-free area planned for Monday. Barriers along parts of Broadway were put in place late on Sunday, and on Monday parts of Times Square were like a street festival.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said the makeover of the New York City's landmark - notorious for its traffic jams - will hand the place to pedestrians. Street performers strutted their stuff, and beach chairs were set up so people could enjoy the good weather.
"It's good for traffic, it's good for businesses and we think it is going to be great deal of fun," city transport commissioner Janet Sadik-Khan said last week. The area has been notorious for its traffic jams, and the Transportation Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, said there would be close monitoring of the situation until people became used to it.
Are you in New York? What do you think about banning cars from parts of Broadway? Will it help cut pollution and ease congestion as city authorities hope?Are you in New York? What do you think about banning cars from parts of Broadway? Will it help cut pollution and ease congestion as city authorities hope?
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