Where Open Streets Are Succeeding

The cities that are making their pandemic-era car-free experiments permanent.

1 minute read

January 6, 2023, 7:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


New York City Open Streets

'Al fresco street' in New York City. | EQRoy / Shutterstock

While some cities are reverting their ‘open streets’ to car-oriented spaces, others are keeping the car-free spaces created during the pandemic. An article by Linda Poon, Feargus O'Sullivan, and Amy Yee in Bloomberg CityLab highlights the places where street transformations are becoming part of the permanent fabric of the city.

The list includes San Francisco’s John F. Kennedy Drive, a mile of which winds through Golden Gate Park. After the city banned cars on this stretch in 2020, local groups mounted an intense opposition campaign. “It has since turned into a full-out pedestrian promenade, with vibrant street murals and eye-popping art installations, including a trio of seven-foot-tall dachshund head sculptures from the city’s defunct fast-food icon Doggie Diner, planted right in the middle of the street.” Ultimately, the city decided to keep the road car-free.

Another success story is 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens, which became a vibrant pedestrian hub as part of the city’s Open Streets initiative. While there is some local opposition, the street has so far remained car-free.

The article also describes projects in Stockholm, Paris, Milan, Bogotá, and Quito, where a 1-mile segment of Viracocha Street was made safer for pedestrians and cyclists with extended sidewalks, new crosswalks, narrowed traffic lanes, and a street mural.

Thursday, December 29, 2022 in Bloomberg CityLab

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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

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.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business