Opinion: It's Time To Put People Ahead of Cars in SoHo

After describing the joys and challenges of living and working in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, Sara Schiller argues in favor of the SoHo Broadway Initiative's Public Realm Framework and Vision Plan, which presents "a fresh image of SoHo, where streets are reoriented for people and community, not cars."

Schiller notes that the pedestrian infrastructure put in place during the pandemic has once. again been subsumed by car traffic, making it difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate the neighborhood safely and comfortably. According to Schiller,

The SoHo Broadway Initiative Public Realm Plan will, among other things, expand sidewalk width by at least 50 percent and divert car traffic away from the neighborhood, giving buses space to pick up and drop off travelers safely, and ensuring bikes can easily navigate these streets.

This will not only allow families to enjoy the area they love but also create a feeling of safety for those who truly need it in order to simply walk. It will boost foot traffic, which benefits the local economy, creating financial security for businesses and increasing overall livelihood in the area.

More importantly, Schiller says, these changes would most benefit the people who use the space and make SoHo "more welcoming and more human."