How an Architect Redesigns NYC Streets | WIRED

[@SallyLePage]

I love the concept of this video but the execution missed for me. I got really confused by her sketches that we barely saw Give her different coloured pens, use colour coding for car lanes/pavements/bike lanes etc, use animation to show one on top of the other... Would love to see another video on this topic that really focused on what the changes were.

[@moony2703]

I feel like she needed more _time_ as well to really highlight things and focus in on one area rather than the scatter gun approach of showing multiple situation. Although not sure if that was because of the video length not being enough time for her to go into detail, if she’s just so used to working at a professional speed with people familiar with what she means that she didn’t really slow down enough for the average person who don’t have as much experience in this sort of thing, or perhaps more likely a combination of both. There was both too much and not enough attention to detail here, even if it was obvious that she really knew what she was talking about.

[@0h0h0h0]

I feel it's also a matter of editing and cutting the video at weird points. She's pointing to things on the map and on her sketch while speaking about it, but then the camera suddenly cuts to a view of her face; so you can't see what she's talking about.

[@sandrasim46]

I wish NYC and cities around america had more pedestrian-only streets, or areas like the highline, where you can walk around without dealing with cars.

[@justinbeechey232]

if they did automatic cars would be easier

[@AerysBat]

It is INSANE that they still let cars drive through Times Square imo

[@davidbrouillette8951]

The mayor announced a $1billion investment into pedestrianization and street safety last week, so looks like that’s the direction we’re headed in

[@NEHappyCamper]

but then people would have to walk

[@arvyno7129]

@@NEHappyCamper that good,no more traffic jam and pedestrian not dealing with cars when walking anymore

[@KamiKaZantA]

I recommend the channel Not Just Bikes that goes into detail what makes a streets and neighbourhoods good or bad.

[@hititwithit]

I recommend this reaction for mentioning Not Just Bikes.

[@aaryanairy756]

Thanks.

[@nuansd]

+1, can't recommend them enough! Go watch Not Just Bikes videos on Stroads!

[@jasonremy1627]

Great channel. Also "City Beautiful" is a fantastic channel on urban design.

[@michaelmorales1475]

And: "City Nerd". A Pretty Underrated Channel.

[@hobochild39]

Even though this is an improvement, the planning still scares me. The US needs to take a good look at how European cities create harmony between vehicles, commuters and pedestrians.

[@GhettoArabSage]

It's easy. Everybody follows the rules. In nyc everybody is just towing their party's line. If you're a bicyclist you hate cars and won't call out a bicyclist who breaks the rules. In the Netherlands if you jaywalk other pedestrians, drivers and bicyclists will all call you out on it. It's social behavior not rocket science.

[@shaddythewiz3836]

honestly nyc needs to do a lot more as nyc is still pretty car dependent in a lot of areas on the edge of the city .mind you those edge of city is still far better than most cities in the us when it comes to public transportation but y’all be surprised how hard it is to travel in those areas.

[@demetri_lopez]

US cities aren’t European cities. We can’t look at cities that were designed for the car and replicate European cities? They have different needs that need to be addressed with new solutions not Europe solutions…

[@44anml226]

@@demetri_lopez multiple cities in the netherlands were designed for the cars in the past but people protested and they improved public transport. The “us cities are built for cars” argument isnt a good enough excuse and its the zoning laws that restrict mix use development that needs to change instead of spamming single family households

[@hobochild39]

@@GhettoArabSage hmm not sure if that comment on the Netherlands is correct 😂

[@suannelee1288]

I personally love the redesign of all three of these intersections, especially the thoughtfulness around pedestrian safety, places to congregate, and the added green space. I walked down Cooper Square recently and was blown away at how much more peaceful it was to cross the street than 10 years ago!

[@BurritoMassacre]

I love city planning videos, makes me want to go back to school at 35 y/o to study this. ❤️

[@qwaqwa1960]

You're still young...do it!!! :-)

[@advin_]

I am 35 and currently back in school. Is possible!

[@BurritoMassacre]

@@advin_ that’s wonderful! Wishing you all The best with your studies!

[@shirleyscott6159]

Go for it! 😊

[@JafarChou]

The pandemic opened up a whole array of online degree options that's perfect for mature people with families and a job. I say go for it!

[@sirboi]

Very interesting subject but what a terrible editing was done to this video. Everytime the archictect tried to point out the design flaws in that sketch the video was cut to show her full body wth?

[@jenhofmann]

They broke the rule of "show, don't tell".

[@hkr667]

Yeah that was effing annoying.

[@Scrimjer]

Content mills dude

[@AirQuotes]

Erg thank you it was so annoying. Whoever shot/edited this should be fired

[@Siansonea]

There should also have been clear maps that show all the changes, and when they mention the names of the streets in the narration, those should be shown on the maps. This could have been a great video, I was interested enough in the topic to watch the whole thing, but at the end of it I feel like I didn't learn as much as I could have.

[@mats7492]

If you drive a car in NYC voluntarily, you’re insane

[@BeefJerky_FromNewJersey]

I do it all the time! Not a bad way to get around honestly

[@SJ-nl6xl]

But do you want to step in a homeless man's livingroom every time you get on the train

[@MikeGrahamDSM]

It’s not that serious. You’d have to be a sharp driver to navigate in any of the four inner-city boroughs, but it’s not rocket science. Just don’t be a mindless driver like those in Jersey or in the mid-western states.

[@14moti]

You have to remember that NYC is a very large area consisting of five boroughs and not just Manhattan. And honestly many parts of Brooklyn are worse to drive in than Manhattan. And also remember that more traffic means lower speeds, which means if you bump into someone, the damage will be small and no one is really gonna get hurt. It's not hard to drive in Manhattan. It's hard to PARK there 😭😭

[@apexhunter935]

Maybe you're insane to think that people who willingly drive are the scum of the earth

[@invox9490]

The hardest part of Arquitecture is NOT finding the solution, it's coming up with the budget that CAN be approved.

[@rollindutchy7916]

Good improvements. Still missing protected cycling paths, especially in such a busy city as NYC.

[@JordanPeace]

They’re getting a lot better about cycling infrastructure in NYC, lots of protected lanes and dedicated bikeways being installed across the city and more and more people seem to be biking around the city because of it

[@KolyaStr]

Term bad street could be replaced by Stroad.

[@hititwithit]

100%

[@victoriac847]

In Architecture school we had a project that was on such a complicated site traffic wise that we took 2/4 months of our semester redesigning the traffic patterns… I’ve never underestimated urban designers and traffic engineers ever since 😂

[@0h0h0h0]

I'm a Dutch architect/urban planner and this scares me. So many opportunities missed. Don't get me wrong I think she did a phenomenal job, but just the general car-based attitude that unfortunately still prevails (even though the new designs are DEFINITELY improvements to this)... So many things I took for granted or logical to anyone I'm realising aren't haha. Thanks to videos like this and Not Just Bikes.

[@DieNibelungenliad]

The 1940s was the beginning of bad urban planning in Canada and in the United States. The gov of Toronto needs to turn streets into paths and turn roads into streets, build electric tramlines and railroads for public transport, and turn single residential zones into mixed use high density zones. Also, demolish the highways and remove minimum parking space requirements.

[@greenmachine5600]

Exactly

[@abmindprof]

Toronto surprised me as an American, who (typically naively on this point) imagined that Canada had to be more enlightened on things like this. However, the limited subways and car-focus showed me how wrong I was. It's worse than say Philly or Boston or for that matter Montreal.

[@DieNibelungenliad]

@@abmindprof Canada is just the American frontier in alot of ways culturally. There are many Canadians who are more aware of American national politics than they are of who their own Ministers are

[@okaywhatevernevermind]

@@DieNibelungenliad Quebec is its own little bubble, though

[@alysonlofgren3328]

I would watch a feature length film on this topic! So interesting!

[@Joe-ij6of]

This is great… street architecture is the professional perspective I didn’t know I needed to be aware of, until now. There’s plenty of streets/intersections in my city that need some redesign, that’s for sure.

[@justCedric]

It would be interesting to hear what those people affected by the redesigns think (like bus drivers, ...)

[@davidgitano27]

I drive around NYC for a living, and at least Cooper Square is 100% a better place to drive.

[@MikeGrahamDSM]

It’s been way better for pedestrians and drivers alike. No playing frogger when trying to get to the St. Marks area (Astor place).

[@EvosBasics]

As someone who drove trucks professionally and drive normally on my off time, I found these street designs confusing and sort of a hassle because you could no longer turn when you wanted to. Obviously you get used to it but instead of just being able to cut across you have to take more time to loop around. Pedestrian spaces are nice but also forces cars to take longer routes to go around them

[@Forlfir]

@@EvosBasics pedestrians are the priority though

[@EvosBasics]

@@Forlfir yes these design changes are mainly for the pedestrians.

[@Jen-jo5qu]

Great story here. I hope street re-designs can continue to help drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists-- plus add beauty to the area.

[@Luboman411]

I used to cross Cooper Union all the time. I remember the pre-2017 crossings. They were quite dangerous. I would avoid going down that way and cross Third Avenue way up by Astor Place. Now it's a delight to cross Cooper Union. I didn't realize this was the lady responsible for such a huge transformation. I was very pleased that that big two-lane road to the left/west was turned into a small road with one lane. Really improved the feel of the area.

[@helleyt1]

I wish this video actually showed how the streets were redesigned.

[@golnoushtavakolmoghadam2683]

I LOVE the architecture series!

[@davidbacigal5693]

Sounds good, would like to see the streets now. Need to google it since it wasnt shown in the video

[@ryanrodriguez4535]

It’s so crazy too see the street right next to my apartment and see the thoughts that went into how they formed

[@0AnnieStarr]

This video doesn't tell me anything since it doesn't go into detail about: 1. How they approached these issues; 2. Came to the conclusion that these remodels would be better/more efficient; 3. The result of said improvements. Also title is misleading since it was just explanations of what "the company" did, not, as said before, the process.

[@AerysBat]

I walk through the new Albee Square all the time it's a nice little plaza! There are also new tables and benches where you can sit

[@rabbytca]

The supporting commentary would have been helpful if it were not for the substance of the video being totally lost in fleeting glimpses of blurry sketch papers.

[@donlikejohn]

it’s interesting that streets are designed beyond their function as transitional spaces, never thought about it like that but it seems so obvious now i’ve seen the process

[@Jdhdbsbsjdnraqowirjfndksjdndj]

What a great video! This was so interesting.

[@paragonflash8937]

What many dont realise is that Architecture is very impactful on the daily lives we live in. for example the roads the amount of accidents that will happen on here, The travel time for first responders, the avaliability for bake lanes and parking, the space for future developments like businesses or residentials, the space dedicated for nature and parks allowing for community to be bult and expanded upon, The amount of population within that area. City planners have to think about multiple factors and its really cool to see how over time we improve on the ideas of roads and architecture.

[@jrisner6535]

Absolutely brilliant video, more like this please!

[@robertlee8805]

Love to check these places out sometime soon.

[@rochelimit55555]

It’s so satisfying to see the beautification

[@--Paws--]

Astor Place could've been where a roundabout can be placed, it looks possible too.

[@wcsah]

This was a little confusing to follow in its editing. It feels like a much longer explanation was cut down until it didn't make much sense any more

[@azatheunholy]

awesome thx for the vid!!!

[@TheSykobanana]

it would help if you actually had side by side comparisons up for a decent mount of time so we could compare. poorly edited.

[@boopbleepbloop]

Makes me feel grateful to live in London

[@joemyers85]

TL;DW - If you want to improve roads, get rid of the roads.

[@greenmachine5600]

True

[@MohammedKhaled-ju7gy]

I really wouldn’t know how to do her job, she explains it so effortlessly on photos but I didn’t understand anything 😂

[@mohammedalnayar]

Let the girl talk... It felt like it was really rushed when editing. I love city planning stuff but half of the content was poorly delivered :/

[@0Defensor0]

3:00 Is it just me, or Cooper Sq is still wide enough for 2 lanes of traffic plus on-street parking? Isn't it supposed to be street with only one lane?

[@wasgood_lp]

That’s crazy and interesting never thought about that before

[@madonnamanpower7204]

I would love to see how a biking/pedestrian "highway" though a city would effect the nature of a city. Basically a park like area with walking and biking lanes and no cars instead of a street.

[@HigherQualityUploads]

You can fix most streets by 1) getting rid of all/most car lanes 2) adding protected bike lanes 3) widening sidewalks

[@Coolman573]

horrible oversimplification

[@HigherQualityUploads]

@@Coolman573 You're right, I forgot one: Add plants

[@DivingHusky]

the reason why i stopped playing the game City skyline, designing road is really really hard and difficult

[@noemierollindedebeaumont1130]

Yes ! You need a ton of dlc and mods to have a somewhat coherent tool box...

[@mewwww17]

Yo I literally just wrapped on an architectural degree project near Astor Place and Cooper Union and we were critiquing how the street design there has discouraged skateboarding. Interesting to here a more positive take.

[@h3yBk]

I use to hang out in the cube every night back in the late 90's. No one respected the streets and cars it was a free for all, I'm curious and would love to go back and see the change

[@KyNYC212]

"Roadbad" love this!!

[@mind-of-neo]

I wish my city and more others had the kind of dense city feel you really only see in NYC.

[@thedarkgreenvanman]

5:07 theres a guy living in that cube!

[@saranbhatia8809]

Way to go!!

[@d0zeboy]

It's becoming obvious that the push made by the auto industry in the early-mid 1900s to build more car-focused infrastructure had a lot of negative consequences for people. Namely, more focus on roads and more lanes for cars as opposed to more green spaces, parks, and areas friendly to pedestrians and cyclists. I'd love to see something as extreme as just entirely ripping up a fraction of the streets and avenues of NYC and replacing car lanes with parks, green spaces, and pedestrian/bicycle only areas. Cars should be second class citizens in densely populated cities -- they are loud, inefficient, pollute the air, and are dangerous to people. Taxis/Ubers and delivery trucks seem welcome and necessary, though. But the more we invest in green spaces and pedestrian and cycling areas, the more desirable these areas become to hang out in and the less people will want to drive in NYC anyway.

[@Rugiada1035]

nice, but what about bike lanes? there were none included in these nice projects?

[@pallzoltan]

I loved this video

[@KenyiKubari]

Great video

[@michaelmorales1475]

Interesting.

[@miaclee]

Absolutely love the idea of this video but the execution wasn’t great. It was hard to follow the improvements that were made. Some animation or motion media showing which way traffic flows or where pedestrian zones are would’ve been great.

[@advin_]

Please fix 10 Ave in midtown. it doesn’t have a bike lane, is very dangerous.

[@ayjaxon]

The voice over interjections were mostly unnecessary. Would have been better to just let the expert talk.

[@nathangregory_]

I lived in NYC for over 20 years. And in all those years, I could never understand why anyone, except cabbies, would drive in the city. It's pure insanity and always will be no matter how one can redesign its structure. If she really wanted to do any good in redesigning city streets, she should come to Los Angeles, where it's genuinely needed, and not NYC, where MTA has already solved those issues long ago.

[@davidfrischknecht8261]

I don't live in NYC, but I've visited it quite often. When I do, I drive through the Lincoln Tunnel and park at Port Authority.

[@blondbum]

Ms Weisz I wish I could pay you to redesign the new Colorado Springs intersections 😭

[@Samuel-qj2mi]

the film editing is horrible, while the guest is drawing and explaining her design motives, the screen keeps switching between the drawing and the guest.

[@juanpablocorreiaecheverria2857]

It’s not good enough. New York should have even more walkable spaces.

[@absurdism101]

"Completely car-focused", welcome to America!! Elon musk says just one more lane!

[@oldcowbb]

how about a lane, but underground! genius!

[@ElenaRastgar]

Perfect ❤

[@deus_ex_machina_]

The editing of this video was awful-everytime she's sketching something out they cut to a pointless shot of her looking down at what she's sketching. This could've been more effective as a podcast...

[@themicoism]

It's really amazing to watch IRL Cities Skyline videos. lmao

[@miamiray]

Claire Weisz, come to Miami and fix our streets please

[@bernardfinucane2061]

Streets should meet at right angles, even is that means bending them. Triangles should lose their longest leg. Low traffic streets should be shut down to car traffic, especially if they lead to more complex intersections. It isn't that hard.

[@ZeNN-Music]

Maybe let someone guide some American urban designers through cities in The Netherlands for some inspiration...

[@cruisetheautisticboy994]

Make a video about John Goodman answering the Internet's most asked questions!

[@okhera1]

Very Nice Bro! Get Good People!

[@AirQuotes]

I had no idea road's even changed

[@georgeemil3618]

Looks a lot like what Janette Sadik-Khan was trying to do. Cans of paint and some lawn chairs can convert dead car only zones into vibrant pedestrian malls.

[@JAKempelly]

Very good

[@evjq]

They need to tax vehicles coming into downtown NYC. The less cars, the better.

[@BeefJerky_FromNewJersey]

That’s the wrong solution. Every city that does congestion pricing shows little to no improvement in traffic. Just another tax on people

[@SKF358]

Well done

[@lorenaelizabethch585]

The editor didn't pay enough attention to the sketches

[@cuckoonut1208]

Some third world countries have cities that were planned so badly in the past 25 years, it would take a miracle to solve them. They should get her help.

[@sammyismuff]

🙂sidewalks!

[@SJ-nl6xl]

Some of these streets shes talking about need traffic control guards . Other wise they will never move. 👍🏻

[@timonix2]

Why do cars get this almost holy access to air? What is so special that makes a car be able to see the moon at night? It doesn't seem to be an issue running a street inside a building. It's done all the time in tunnels and parking garages. Leave the sky for pedestrians and move the roads into the buildings.

[@Touchgrassplz]

dear editor, this video was hard to watch - i barely understood any of her thoughts because of the jump cuts wtf

[@schmeiser1]

It’s weird to see street architect draw traffic direction the wrong way. Probably one of the issues with street redesign

[@Mathijsje1987]

If you would like a good channel for urban infrastructure design look up 'not just bikes'. It's great!!

[@BenjaminDirgo]

The visuals were very confusing. You talk about the streets like I live in NYC, when I have no idea what your talking about.

[@tonysoviet3692]

Although I understand benefits of a great street, many urban planners straight up ignore supply and demand. Housing shortage in US is completely artificial due to strict regulations and crap like minimum setback. Read Order Without Design by Alain Bertaud, who explicitly explains the underlying economic drivers of cities, and not just base on normative values like "livability" and "sustainability".

[@harenterberge2632]

Where is the bicycle infrastructure?

[@Likeomgitznich]

What’s the point in making this a video if all the visuals are faint scribes on a piece of trace paper? Dear god. Do better

[@Cameron_McCaw]

You mean civil engineer

[@hilosky]

Others have already commented on the terrible editing in this like how we can't tell what the architect is talking about because of the camera angle. I'm more concerned with the rapidly flashing images that happen THREE SEPARATE TIMES in the beginning of the video. Please never do this again. It physically hurt to see and it served literally no purpose.

[@danielc4565]

A lot of street designs are terrible these days! They seem to divert the problem and restrict accessibility as a solution. If 50 cars can be on a two way road fine, but when it increases to 70 there are issues. They change it to a one way road reduce lanes so only 30 cars can now go down that street and pat themselves on the back because they apparently have addressed the issue. That does not make for a "better" street.

[@richardbently7236]

Interesting

[@palmon8973]

They played cities skylines

[@shayan_idk]

manhattan should ban all cars except deliveries and taxis. itll improve life for everybody.

[@0mnislash79]

coulda just made a roundabout

[@dorotheam.2239]

3:34 lmao hearing that as a european 😂

[@rogerregistratro7882]

can you guys normalize the audio? i have to turn it up to hear the architect and turn it down to hear the narrator at a reasonable volume. and why is this ancient woman using upsppeak?

[@mattcarr8333]

Can you get into contact with me I need help redesigning some roads in ohio

[@hhshshdjjd5137]

good

[@hikodzu]

Great