Car-free Sundays and "open streets" initiatives are growing in the USA

[Invisibleflash]

AI

Car-free Sundays and "open streets" initiatives are growing in the US, temporarily closing roads to vehicles to promote walking, cycling, and community activities. Major programs include San Francisco’s Sunday Streets, Philadelphia’s Open Streets: West Walnut, and NYC's 34th Ave in Queens. These efforts often boost local business by increasing pedestrian foot traffic. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Car-Free Sunday Programs in the US:

• Philadelphia (Spring & Fall 2025/2026): According to PhillyVoice and the Center City District, Open Streets: West Walnut returns, closing Walnut Street (Broad to 19th) and 18th Street (Locust to Chestnut) on Sundays, April 5–May 17, 2026 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) and again in the Fall.
• San Francisco (Sunday Streets): SFMTA organizes regular car-free events to support healthy living and sustainable transportation.
• Chicago (Milwaukee Ave): A pilot program, as reported by ABC7 Chicago, turns stretches of Milwaukee Ave into pedestrian-friendly areas on Sundays in August, September, and October.
• San Francisco (JFK Drive): A dedicated section of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park is permanently closed to cars on Sundays.
• New York City: 34th Avenue in Queens is one of the most prominent, operating as a 24/7 pedestrian-centered street. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Common Goals and Impacts:

• Businesses: Programs often see increased sales and foot traffic, with sidewalks expanding for outdoor dining.
• Community: Streets become community spaces for exercise, socializing, and, as shown on Wikipedia, a car-free day.
• Health & Safety: Regular closures provide safe spaces for children and seniors to use the street. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

 

[1srelluc]

Just goes to show that there are too many people in those areas.

Add 135 million people since 1970 and you get what you get.

 

[Mashmont]

AI

Car-free Sundays and "open streets" initiatives are growing in the US, temporarily closing roads to vehicles to promote walking, cycling, and community activities. Major programs include San Francisco’s Sunday Streets, Philadelphia’s Open Streets: West Walnut, and NYC's 34th Ave in Queens. These efforts often boost local business by increasing pedestrian foot traffic. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Car-Free Sunday Programs in the US:

• Philadelphia (Spring & Fall 2025/2026): According to PhillyVoice and the Center City District, Open Streets: West Walnut returns, closing Walnut Street (Broad to 19th) and 18th Street (Locust to Chestnut) on Sundays, April 5–May 17, 2026 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) and again in the Fall.
• San Francisco (Sunday Streets): SFMTA organizes regular car-free events to support healthy living and sustainable transportation.
• Chicago (Milwaukee Ave): A pilot program, as reported by ABC7 Chicago, turns stretches of Milwaukee Ave into pedestrian-friendly areas on Sundays in August, September, and October.
• San Francisco (JFK Drive): A dedicated section of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park is permanently closed to cars on Sundays.
• New York City: 34th Avenue in Queens is one of the most prominent, operating as a 24/7 pedestrian-centered street. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Common Goals and Impacts:

• Businesses: Programs often see increased sales and foot traffic, with sidewalks expanding for outdoor dining.
• Community: Streets become community spaces for exercise, socializing, and, as shown on Wikipedia, a car-free day.
• Health & Safety: Regular closures provide safe spaces for children and seniors to use the street. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

View attachment 1243845

All part of the plan to eliminate the internal combustion engine, the vehicle of capitalism.

 

[odanny]

On the weekends in some major cities in Asia, I've seen it Vietnam and other countries, they close the downtown streets on Saturday or Sunday and vendors set up stalls on sidewalks, leaving the streets open for walking, it's cool.