Whose Streets? The Next New York Mayor Will Have to Decide.

Eight leading Democratic candidates share their ideas for curbing congestion and improving pedestrian and cyclist safety.

During the pandemic lockdown, New York City’s relentless traffic virtually disappeared, leaving a vast expanse of asphalt up for grabs in one of the world’s most crowded cities. Neighborhood arteries once jammed with cars teemed with people eager to escape tiny apartments. Packs of new cyclists staked their claim. Sidewalk curbs were repurposed with tables and chairs for outdoor dining. But as New York recovers and traffic returns, there is a growing tug of war over who gets to use this huge inventory of open space: the city’s 6,000 miles of streets. The future of such contested space has become a key issue in the race for the next mayor, who will be responsible for managing the streets.