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uptowngirl
uptowngirl

Pedestrian Plazas on Times Square

Recently the Mayor announced that the pedestrian plazas on Time Square are going to be a permanent NYC fixture
http://www.ny1.com/5-manhattan-news-content/top_stories/113521/pedestrian-plaza-to-remain-permanent-fixture-of-times-square
There seems to be a similar effort in the Herald Square area as well. Has anybody from this forum actually gone and hung out at any of these plazas? The idea of Plazas is good but they seem to be positioned in such a weird location.. I certainly wouldn't want to hang out in the midst of touristy Times Square/ Herald Square.. you?
Question asked via StreetAdvisor The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of Douglas Elliman.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
You're right that the locations seem odd, but then again, why not? I've often remarked how there's no real place to sit for a moment in New York, unlike any other city, where you find benches and so forth all over the place. In New York it seems like everything is designed for motion and speed, and why not rethink that idea, and actually offer places where you can rest. Actually, it's about time...

Granted, I'm not likely to willingly hang around Times Square most days, but still...
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
I wonder if what you are talking about relates to what I posted three days ago.

http://www.streetadvisor.com/new_york/forums/green-light-for-midtown-project-to-continue

Either way, I don't like hanging out at Times Square that much because of it being overcrowded.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
What about parks like Madison Square Park and Bryant Park, @uraniumfish? Just little one-to-two block mini-parks...those are nice! But I can't imagine the noisy Times Square being pleasant at all.
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DBlack
DBlack 2yrs+
The poor poor tourists walking around need a place to rest their tired feet. If I were an enterprising young performer - like some hip hop/acrobatic dancers I saw the last time I was at Times Square - I would use the opportunity to do some moves for the folks sitting around and then pass around the hat... Make the most of that tourist wallet...
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Yeah, I saw someone do that recently. It was wild. He did some moves and acted silly over some music. After he held out his hat placed it on the ground. He must have made a good hundred dollars right on the spot.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted Thanks for the link to your post didnt realize the plazas were erected to control traffic just thought NYC was following the European trend of having Plazas where you can just park yourself and have a coffee / a snack while you people watch and recuperate after a shopping/ sight seeing spree.

@DBlack many performers at the Union Square Park seem to do just that -entertain the crowds who gather there I mean.

@Uraniumfish I agree that tourists need to have a spot to rest and put up their feet but wish the area chosen had some more charm though the plaza on Herald Square is slightly better for it is actually located adjacent to a park like setting .










2U
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JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
Egads! I cannot stand Times Square. It can anyone who is used to all the people in New York just flip their lid. I feel like all the movies that illustrate the busy, "get out of my way," NY mentality have just completely escaped all of the tourists memories. I always think "poor me," when I have to walk through there. . . .and, then add an extra 10 minutes trying to get around the dawdlers.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Last fall when I accompanied an out-of-town visitor to his first ever experience of Times Square, I had to take a nap beforehand. Too much sensory input, and yeah, JenMac, too much dawdler-rage that builds up.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
I think I'd like to submit "dawdler rage" to the list of diseases specific to New Yorkers.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
Well said Uraniunfish on some days I really suffer badly with no patience at all for 'the dwadlers' ..
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
I agree that Times Square is so loaded with people that getting through takes time. This is why I prefer not to there too often. I only go to Times Square if it is an urgent situation.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@everyone I think the pedestrian plazas on Times square and Herald Square have been a hit with tourists and locals alike so much so the city is now planning to replicate this experiment in various other parts of the city like the Upper East Side, Astoria and Borough Park Queens.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/pedestrian_mall_plan_expanding_tJfWski12rF6YIv9jke9zI
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
I am really curious as to how closing streets made traffic move through midtown "7% faster overall." How is it possible?!
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish Can you define "dawdler rage" a little more expressively? You mean rage at dawdlers, right? Because the term kind of sounds as if the dawdlers are the ones that are raging...maybe it could use some tweaking?
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@BroadwayBK Point taken. There's a precedent for naming the "rage" after the underlying situation or stimulant, for example "roid rage" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roid_Rage#Aggression_and_hypomania) and "road rage" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_rage)

But in this case that would mean naming the "rage" something like "street rage" or "pedestrian rage" neither of which seem all that expressive.

However, several other "rage" behaviors that are already quantified, are named after the thing at which the rage is directed. As examples, "wrap rage" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrap_rage) and "computer rage" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_rage)

So I'd say "dawdler rage" already has some precedent for how the name is chosen and, although there is some room for misunderstanding in this choice of name, it is still the most expressive one I can think of.
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish: I do understand you. You have made your point clear. Thank you.
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