Car-Free Days Planned for New York

"The Bloomberg administration plans to bar motor vehicles from a 6.9-mile north-south route in Manhattan for six hours each on three consecutive Saturdays."

"He added: 'This has been done in Bogotá for 30 years. They love it. It's phenomenally popular and it probably will work here. If it doesn't, at least we'll have tried.'"

"The route will be closed to vehicles from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 9, 16 and 23. It will go from East 72nd Street - down Park Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Lafayette Street and finally Centre Street - to City Hall."

"At most points, drivers will be barred from crossing the route. They may do so only at 24 cross streets that will be fully open, including major thoroughfares, like 42nd, 34th, 23rd, 14th and Houston Streets; East 72nd Street, at the northern terminus of the route, and Chambers Street, at the southern end."