Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Dozens of NYC streets will be car-free one Saturday this month for Earth Day

By

Catalina Gonella

Published Apr 14, 2025

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 .

People hula-hoop during New York City's car-free Earth Day celebration in Manhattan on April 22, 2023.

 

Zhang Fengguo / Xinhua via Getty Images

By

Catalina Gonella

Published Apr 14, 2025

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

More than 50 streets across New York City will go car-free on Saturday, April 26 as part of the city transportation department’s celebration of Earth Day, which falls on Tuesday, April 22.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at select streets and plazas in all five boroughs, giving pedestrians and cyclists free rein to use space often dominated by drivers. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the occasion will help promote environmentalism and education on climate change.

"We only have one planet,” he said in a statement. “Temporary public art, programming, music, and other activities at dozens of car-free streets around New York City will help us remember: We must all do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and respect our environment."

This year’s event will feature art commissioned by the Department of Transportation along certain routes, as well as two sculptural installations connected to the theme of planetary health. Citi Bike will offer free unlimited 30-minute rides on classic Citi Bikes with the promo code “CARFREENYC25.” There will be 54 car-free locations, up from 53 last year.

The event has become an annual tradition since its launch in 2016, with New Yorkers taking advantage of walking and biking on roads normally clogged with cars. It also marks the start of the city’s Open Streets and Public Space Programming season, according to transportation officials.

Below are the event’s “signature locations” with some of the most space and programming. For the additional 47 car-free spots produced by the city’s partner organizations, and a map of all of them, visit the DOT’s car-free Earth Day page.

Manhattan:

Queens:

Brooklyn:

The Bronx:

Staten Island:

Many more events are planned around the city to mark the occasion.

Tagged

new york city

transportation

Health and Science

Catalina Gonella

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE news

Central Park birders, others remember 63-year-old woman killed in park

People who said they knew her described her as an artist and a familiar presence in the Ramble.

By

Charles Lane

Published Sep 28, 2026 at 7:04 p.m. ET

Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says

It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.

By

Liam Quigley

News

Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says

It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.

By

Liam Quigley

New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ

By

Arya Sundaram

A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.

By

Samantha Max

Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910

By

Michael Sol Warren

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 .