Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
“Earth Day is when we can all commit to protecting our Earth – and one way we can do that is by repurposing our roadways,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez.
By Forum Staff
City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez was joined on Thursday in Times Square by community partners and elected officials to announce programming for the fifth annual Car-Free Earth Day – to be celebrated this year on Saturday, April 23rd. (Earth Day will be globally observed on Friday, April 22nd.)
“Earth Day is when we can all commit to protecting our Earth – and one way we can do that is by repurposing our roadways,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “Car-Free Earth Day is a growing tradition that allows New York City’s car-free streets to come alive. The last two years – of Open Streets, Open Restaurants, the surge in cycling and so much more — have only made us appreciate even more how much better we must treat Mother Earth — and a day without cars allows us to envision a more sustainable world for more than just one day.”
First launched in 2016, Car-Free Earth Day originally had converted select Manhattan streets into public plazas and car-free streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and local businesses. At an announcement in Times Square, DOT outlined how this year’s event – the first since 2019 — would expand the original model, with programming in all five boroughs — connecting over 100 open streets, 22 plazas, and accessing over 1000 miles of NYC’s bike network. Each location will bring a wide range of activities from music, dance, art, bike programming, cultural activities, and educational workshops.
Originally and first envisioned by Commissioner Rodriguez when he served as Council Transportation Chair, Car-Free Earth Day brings together dozens of elected officials, advocacy groups, and private and public institutions to support a campaign that emphasizes sustainability and asks New Yorkers to leave their cars at home on Earth Day – and use other viable transportation options on that day. Since its inception, Car-Free Earth Day has partnered with a variety of artists, performers, organizations, and companies to make the event a success.
This year’s Car-Free Earth Day kicks off DOT’s 2022 Open Streets and Public Space Programming season. DOT is excited to work alongside community members and partners to announce the equitable expansion of the car-free programming to eight locations throughout all the boroughs. Areas open for pedestrians and cyclists in Queens will be:
Jackson Heights
Route: 34th Avenue, 69th Street to Junction Boulevard
Open Street Active Hours (7:00am – 8:00pm)
Programming Highlights (11:00am – 5:00pm):
- Performances by Green Tape Productions, Lotus Dance, Michael Rosman and Queensboro Dance
- Activities and workshops with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, NYC Department of City Planning, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, DOT Safety Education, and the Horticultural Society of New York
- Pop-up learning activities with the Street Lab
“I’m thrilled to celebrate Car-Free Earth Day in Queens and across the city this year. We’ve come such a long way since 2016 when this program first launched, and I’m encouraged that we’ll continue to move ahead to not only effectively reduce our carbon footprint, but also build more reliable public transit options so that New Yorkers feel even more inclined to utilize it,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr. “I look forward to seeing the festivities on Jackson Heights’ stellar 34th Avenue Open Street, which will undoubtedly be a great way to kick off the DOT’s highly anticipated Open Streets and Public Space Programming season for our friends and families.”
