URBAN DESIGN FORUM NEW YORK:
ONWARD: NEW IDEAS FOR TRANSPORTATION

What will these new habits and technologies mean for the shape of the city? Will ridesharing reduce the need for parking and unlock new opportunities for development? How will autonomous vehicles affect the design of our streets? Could our dense city become a bicycle boomtown? And will new transportation options pull support away from our historic transit network? Help us craft a vision for the future of mobility in New York City. How would you build a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable city? How would you improve New York’s streets, transportation networks, and built fabric in order to create a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable city?

Imagine one of the most walk able streets where all dynamics are naturally controlled by pedestrians, tourists and local natives of the island of New York. No dependence on mass transportation necessary. All energy is reflected off of humans by walking and creating carbon footprint. Human-powered energy can definitely be the next best thing in powering the City. This streetscape would accompany several types of lanes for all kinds of people from all walks of life. This would be an excellent example of multi-functional infrastructure for the street of the future.

Lane number one: “Athletic, Anti-Aging Activists”: This lane would only be reserved for athletes training for the New York Marathon, triathlons, or other races. This route would include transition points in Central Park. Quick “down time” on the benches, watching dogs, and nature, while drenched from head to toe in buckets of ice water and Gatorade would be a runner’s dream come true.

Lane number two: “Low-Key Activists”: This lane would be developed for joggers and walkers, working up the ladder of success. During winter, the activists would still be inspired to jog under multiple-layers of North face and Under Armoire track suits. Already active during winters increases their mentality into maintaining consistent energy levels, mentally and physically, during any season.

These streets would accommodate all multi-generational groups of New Yorkers wanting to empower their soul and heart for long-term living, which would lead to another “Central Park” for living sustainably.

Lane number three: “The Dog Whisperers”: A lane embedded in natural grass or Kentucky bluegrass with permeable cooling layers for protecting the paws of all metropolitan city dogs would very accommodating. This lane would be the most trend-setting for the huge startup industry in NYC of dog-walking companies. These city dogs would be examples of long-term companions in utilizing natural resources.

Lane number four: “The Green Bikers Gang”: This lane does exist partially in random parts on Broadway and on old streets of NYC. Not only would these bikers reduce carbon footprint and gas emissions, but they also would use this lane as a natural energy source to charge their own gadgets. The energy of vibrations from its wheels would bounce off so quickly and bring Wi-Fi to all local Starbucks, commercial and retail all around.

This future “Central Park” could balance and offset the power of underground subway cars much more than the heavy impact of millions of streetwalkers energizing the City. Trees could finally have less stress factors and have a longer lifespan outlining the City and in preserving our future.

These ideas bring in examples of multi-functional ways in strongly utilizing an existing streetscape, for long term benefits for our environment. The idea of customizing different lanes to all walks of life could possibly strengthen connections of goods and transport to the outer boroughs and cities outside of NYC. This would set an example for other cities to follow.