Summer Streets Begins This Weekend, Kicking off for the First Time in All Five Boroughs

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 27, 2023

Contact: (212) 839-4850, press@dot.nyc.gov

Summer Streets Begins This Weekend, Kicking off for the First Time in All Five Boroughs

New Yorkers Will Enjoy 20 Miles of Car-Free Streets and Programming Over Five Saturdays This Summer, starting with Queens and Staten Island this Saturday, July 29

Builds on Mayor Adams’ Expansion of Summer Streets Into East Harlem Last Year and Ongoing Efforts to Equitably Provide Vibrant Public Spaces Across New York City

New York – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the beginning of Summer Streets, with the biggest expansion in the program's 15-year history. The popular program, which opens select streets for people to play, walk, and bike, will expand to all five boroughs for the first time and will now extend to 125th Street in Manhattan. The expanded Summer Streets will span five Saturdays between July and August and is now doubled in size to feature 20 miles of car-free streets. Free performances and other activities will be available at stops along each route. The five-borough Summer Streets program builds on Mayor Adams' "Working People's Agenda" and game-changing $375 million investment in creating vibrant, accessible public spaces across the entire city.

This year's program will be the most ambitious version since Summer Streets launched in 2008 and brings a continued focus on equity. More than 500,000 people walked, ran, cycled, or played on Summer Streets last year.

On all five Summer Streets days, Citi Bike will offer a limited number of complimentary day passes to non-members, presented by Citi. Go to purchase a Day Pass in the Citi Bike app and use the code CITISUMMER to receive unlimited complimentary unlocks on Citi Bike for 24 hours.

"Summer Streets kicks off this weekend in Queens and Staten Island and will extend to all five boroughs for the first time," said NYC DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. "The great programming and events enjoyed for years along Park Avenue will now be available along Grand Concourse, Vernon Boulevard, Eastern Parkway, and Richmond Terrace, making Summer Streets a true citywide experience. We thank our great sponsors and partners and hope every New Yorkers can make it out to enjoy this celebration of the season!"

"When you open our roads to the public, you show the potential for how they can better serve the needs of cyclists and pedestrians, which is why Summer Streets has long been one of the most popular -- and fun -- initiatives in rethinking how we allocate public space," said Caroline Samponaro, VP of Micromobilty and Transit Policy at Lyft. "Together with our partners at DOT, Citi and Lyft will be promoting Citi Bike as a fast, reliable, and affordable transportation option at upcoming Summer Streets events, and we encourage riders to give Citi Bike a try for free with the code CITISUMMER!"

"The best way to explore New York in the summer is on two wheels," said Jon Sellman, Managing Director at Citi. "After 10 years and 180 million rides, Citi Bike has helped millions of New Yorkers break out of their routines. With complimentary day passes provided by Citi, we hope even more New Yorkers will hop on and enjoy a Citi Bike this summer."

Summer Streets 2022 in Lower Manhattan. Credit: New York City Department of Transportation

Summer Streets this year will operate during its traditional hours between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on the following dates and streets:

Saturday, July 29: Queens and Staten Island

Summer Streets in Queens will run along Vernon Boulevard, from 44th Drive to 30th Road. The program will allow users to enjoy the entire Queens waterfront in Long Island City and Astoria.

Summer Streets on Staten Island will run along Richmond Terrace, from York Avenue to Bard Avenue. The program will allow users to access the entire waterfront roadway along Staten Island's North Shore thoroughfare.

Summer Streets Queens Route Map

Summer Street Staten Island Route Map

Saturday, August 5, 12, and 19: Manhattan

Summer Streets in Manhattan will extend the traditional route from Brooklyn Bridge all the way into Harlem, traveling along Lafayette Street and Park Avenue up to 109th Street; on Central Park North from Fifth Avenue to Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard; and finally along Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard from 110th Street to 125th Street.

Summer Streets Manhattan Route Map

Saturday, August 26: Brooklyn and the Bronx

Summer Streets in Brooklyn will travel along Eastern Parkway, from Grand Army Plaza to Buffalo Avenue, connecting Prospect Heights and Brownsville along the same route as the Caribbean Day Parade — one of the city's most popular annual events.

Summer Streets in the Bronx will follow Grand Concourse, from East Tremont Avenue to Mosholu Parkway, opening a major corridor to people from the west to the north Bronx.

Summer Streets Brooklyn Route Map

Summer Streets Bronx Route Map

Programming will be updated online periodically.

Summer Streets sponsors this year include Boxed Water, Cabot Creamery, Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar, Core Power Yoga, C4 Energy Performance, Forager Project, I LOVE NY, Siggi's/Stonyfield, Simply Mixology, smartwater, Super Coffee, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, UP2U, Vita Coco, and vitaminwater zero sugar.

WABC-TV is the official media sponsor of Summer Streets.

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