Visions of a Car-Free Manhattan

In Manhattan, the space devoted to cars and car-related infrastructure takes up an area four times larger than Central Park. What would New York City look like if it divested from cars?

1 minute read

July 20, 2020, 5:00 AM PDT

By Lee Flannery @leecflannery


MTA Bus

hollandog / Shutterstock

Farhad Manjoo has a vision for a car-free Manhattan. Manjoo's recent New York Times piece features scrolling animations that artfully elucidate the borough's dependence on cars as a personal means of transportation. Also included: a 45-minute long video of Manjoo discussing all things cars in the recent past, the present, and the future. 

Streets fell silent at the onset of the coronavirus lockdown. "Rather than stumble back into car dependency, cities can begin to undo their worst mistake: giving up so much of their land to the automobile," writes Mandoo. Mandoo's piece presents a vision of walkable, biker friendly Manhattan streets with illustrations courtesy of the Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, answering the question, "What if we gave that space back to New Yorkers?"


Friday, July 17, 2020 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City