Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Ride A Zip Line, Climb A Rock At This Year's Summer Streets
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jun 12, 2012
Modified Jun 12, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 5
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jun 12, 2012
Modified Jun 12, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Summer's coming, and with it an onslaught of rooftop bar-hopping, specialty food trucks and bedbugs. The return of summer swelter also marks the return of tons of free activities designed to balance out our poolside craft beer habit, including one of our favorites, Summer Streets.
For three Saturdays in August (Aug. 4, 11 and 18) the city will close nearly seven miles of streets to car traffic from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., giving New Yorkers plenty of room to bike, walk, rollerblade, practice yoga, etc. And this summer, the DOT has added something really exciting to the mix— a 160 foot zip line! DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan debuted a zip line demo at a press conference announcing Summer Streets today in Union Square (the real one will be located at the Foley Square rest stop at Chambers Street and Centre Street).
While we were told we'd be able to catch Sadik-Khan soaring high above the sidewalk in a hammocked harness, she apparently "rode it twice this morning," away from the prying eyes of curious photogs. But we still managed to catch a few brave souls trying their hand at urban zip-lining, and they all seemed to be having a grand old time, though one street side observer noted that "you'd have to be crazy…you could break your legs."
In addition to the zip line, this year's Summer Streets will feature a 25-foot climbing wall, free DOT-sponsored helmet fittings and free bike and rollerblade rentals; details about dates, streets and activities can be found on the DOT website.
Tagged
dot
sadik-khan
summer streets
union square
zip line
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .