New York City Is Becoming UNWALKABLE, Here's Why (And How To Fix It)

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[@arvinzaker]

The street vendors imo are one of the best things about the city. Walk in downtown toronto (which is almost free of any street vendor) and you see how empty and souless it looks.

[@mgp1203]

I agree, coming from a tourist from Sydney. We have virtually no street vendors outside of a few markets here and I always found that to be a negative. The vendors were one of my favourite parts of NYC too. Even the "unsightly" vendors do so much to add soul and community to the streets. Sydney is clean, but it lacks that liveliness and feeling of community that is found everywhere in New York. Also, more accessible street stalls attract more customers to be on foot. We have food trucks in Sydney that are few and sparse but they're always located in large, inaccessible car parks. This forces us Sydneysiders to drive there, which defeats the whole point of food trucks.

[@abby786able]

Exactly, street vendors are actually walkability on steroids, you don't even have go inside a store to grab a bite. Urbanists are always crying (rightly so) about how there's not enough places to eat shop in walking distance. Isn't it the best and easiest solution to thst

[@naystv9752]

Literally and clearly he doesn’t know that a lot of those ppl have permits to sell goods on the side walk this has literally been apart of nyc forever and the police do go around ruining ppls lively hoods because they have No permit as an nyc native if you don’t like it don’t come here because most ppl disagree with you that’s why they are still there cuz ppl love them

[@LIRRFAN426]

Vendors are great man

[@BernellJonesII]

Street vendors don’t clog up the sidewalks. This man saw one sidewalk clogged and assumed that’s all of NY 😂 we love street vendors!

[@cameronpratt6164]

You had me until you started going after street carts. NYC is one of the few places in America with an actual street food culture, it should be cherrished, not pushed aside. America's food scene is already so bleak, in terms of the tastes of most people and availablility of decent food. The comment about making people sick is a bit irrelevent as well. People these days have weak stomachs because we are so hyperfocused on getting rid of any possible germ. It makes us weak and has lead to the rise in allergies recently.

[@GirtonOramsay]

I had a good laugh when he went after legal street vendors not cooking food properly. Seriously I found the street food scene amazing as a visitor. Had a freshly made OJ on my way to the subway one morning with no plans for it...talk about spontaneous business. It allows for smaller businesses to flourish when they don't have to pay the obscene commercial rent. There is a food "pod" trend in Portland OR where they allow 10 or so food stands/truck to be set up in a small plot of land, like an unused parking lot, within neighborhoods and really add to the food scene as well.

[@Alexander-ru3qc]

I see your point on the scaffolding, but the street vendors, the food trucks, and halal trucks are a part of nyc. Many locals have a favorite breakfast truck that they go to five times a week, either in their neighborhoods or by their jobs. If you work anywhere from the food trucks in uptown to the vendors by south ferry these food options are an integral part of every neighborhood. You hate cars but hate the restaurants that take up thier parking spaces? Pick a side. I thought this was going to be a true urbanist video but to complain about something like vendors calling them dirty when in most cases they're cleaner than the restaurants. In the case of the other vendors where else you gonna buy gloves, hats or scarves for under five bucks in Manhattan

[@jr98664yt]

Not calling this clickbait KZbin urbanism, but damn was I disappointed when you pretty much only called out all of the vibrant uses of limited sidewalk without getting to the root issue of why your sidewalks are so narrow to begin with: CARS! Don’t fight for concrete crumbs with other sidewalk users when it’s almost entirely due to automobiles and automobility that are denying you the whole-ass asphalt hidden in plane sight between those curbs.

[@officialgreendalehumanbeing]

literally, the space that cars take up is the issue.

[@officialgreendalehumanbeing]

literally, food carts are part of why nyc rocks. it just sounds like he had a bad experience and is making it everyone else’s problem. i have eaten at food carts my whole life and had only a handful of bad experiences.

[@ttopero]

The little infrastructure dedicated to non-vehicles does suck. But your points are still important!

[@pux0rb]

I was thinking the same damn thing. I disagree with him on removing the street booths for restaurants. I think they should stay, but should be even further out. Narrow the lanes or remove some entirely. Keep chairs off the sidewalk. Its actually not any harder to walk around a waiter than it is to walk around anyone else approaching your direction.

[@justinzhuo9948]

right!!!! the opinion on these “impediments” seem utterly blinded and one-sided

[@A_Canadian_In_Poland]

I look at all those parked cars and think, "Why can't the street vendors rent those parking spaces at the same price and under the same terms as vehicular parking?" Surely a business could earn enough to cover the cost of said space.

[@ZoraDelaney]

Dude wants to take all of the flavor out of New York City lol (although I agree about eliminating the longstanding scaffolding and better maintaining the sidewalks / roads).

[@pineapplesoda]

The problem is cars! It's really that simple. There should be lots more car-free streets.

[@SH-LA377]

Your gripe seems to be with cars forcing all these other uses to share a tiny space. I thought you were going to make a video about politicians backing down from plans to widen sidewalks instead it’s complaining about vendors and outdoor dining. Scaffolding and cracks are legitimate complaints but most things on this list are actually good. To each their own!

[@HappyHubris]

As a NYer, we're walking just fine. Clickbait.

[@ttopero]

The spaces used for people besides walking or traveling through are not the problem. They are the reason to EXPAND the zones for people activity. Vending cheap shit happens in structures & outside, so let’s make space for them-all those cars parked behind them are degrading the economic value of the limited common space. NYC & LA should review their parking policies to improve the demand for car use of common spaces in the city-more authentic solution to livability than charging a fee to bring a vehicle with supplies to an area.

[@coastaku1954]

Sorry mate, I don't agree with you here, and I'm glad the comment section agrees. The food carts, especially more legit ones like Nathan's, are a staple and make me want to come back to New York. The vendors suck, I'll give you that, but one thing I 100% disagree with is the outdoor dining spaces. Toronto brought them out in 2020 as part of their "CafeTO" initiative to bring more patio space to restaurants that didn't have much, since patios were the only kind of dining allowed during that summer with Covid. It was WILDLY successful with customers, citizens and restaurant owners loving them, myself included. Not all of CafeTO was dedicated to dining though, some of them were just added seating areas for pedestrians and were open to the public. This was also the same time Toronto was closing off some streets for Cyclists every weekend under the name "ActiveTO" which I really hope they bring back As for the cracked and damaged sidewalks... bro just look out and pay attention, I know it should be fixed but NYC is a big place...

[@mrkritik4005]

WSJ did a great piece recently on the sheds. The reason they stay up is not because of an active project on a building, but because it's cheaper to keep the shed in place than fix the deteriorating facades that risk drop debris on pedestrians. It's lawsuit prevention.

[@Andyblueandgold]

As a very longtime Manhattan resident, I agree with almost all of this, especially the hideous sidewalk sheds. But the city is finally doing something about it. They've brought down about 500 of them in the last few years and more are coming down all over, but there are still unfortunately a ton. The reason for them is the city has a very robust safety inspection program and if they find any little thing the landlord has to either A) fix it immediately or pay a huge fine or B) put up scaffolding as protection until they can do the necessary repair work. So they opt for B and put up the scaffolding and then never do the repair work and just leave it like that! That's why you don't see anyone working there. So the city has finally gotten wise to the loophole so many were taking advantage of and have started to clamp down on landlords who just put up sheds as a permanent way to avoid work and fines. But they are the bane of most New Yorkers existence - along with the avalanche of e-bikers and motorized scooters on the sidewalks and in the parks.

[@mahuhude]

It’s strange how the most busiest bus lines aren’t converted to trams, yet. It would make so much sense to feed the subway system.

[@Phingolfina]

All of these are a result of the massive amount of space dedicated to cars.

[@KyrilPG]

The Highline was inspired by La Coulée Verte in Paris (also called Coulée Verte René-Dumont and now dubbed Paris Highline), which is also an elevated linear park on former railway tracks. It was created between 1988 and 1993, repurposing the rail corridor leading to the former Bastille train station, replaced in the 80's by Opera Bastille, one of the 2 main opera houses of Paris. It's slightly under 5km long ( roughly 3 miles). We also have plenty of on-street outdoor dining areas, similar to NY, that popped up in 2020. And I'm all for it! Because they take parking space, and participate to reduce overall car space, and make the streets more lively. Usually, the ones opposing these on-street outdoor areas are car drivers, and not neighborhood's pedestrian inhabitants... Of course, there are the large "terrasses" of cafés, bistros, brasseries, and restaurants, but this is different. The on-street dining areas are not trying to copy or emulate the European or Parisian "terrasses", they are their own thing. And frankly, it would be bizarre to try to copy something that exists in the same city. They offer something different, and it's a "reconquest" of the streets by bipeds over cars. Trust me, "proper terrasses" are just as noisy and bothered by cars as the new on-street sheds. The "historical" ones, the "terrasses", don't impede car traffic ar all, so you may be farther from the cars, but they drive faster and are just as noisy. While the recent, post-2020, on-street areas tend to narrow car lanes and make them drive slower. The 4 first "impediments" are really part of New York and in varying ways of many major bustling cities. I quite like it, even though it's not always easy for me to walk there, as PRM. But I'd rather have life than just a plain sidewalk. Greetings from Paris!

[@cbaylor7382]

while i totally disagree on the food vendors and dining sheds (they create a vibrant pedestrian space rather than making the sidewalk solely a place to walk through), I really appreciate that you are willing to say something pretty unpopular and unorthodox in the urbanism community. I really think the urbanist community could use some diversity of thought.

[@teddyholcomb4768]

Also I’ve never gotten sick from the food cart vendors. And they’re actually affordable as compared to the $15 lunch places that are the only other reasonable option in midtown.

[@GirtonOramsay]

Seems like you would be happier with a city like Portland OR. They have food "cart/pods" where they set up a little plaza on unused lands in the city, often parking lots, for food vendors and trucks to sell. They definitely are designed to not take away from the sidewalks or street. And they are across the entire metro area, even in the suburbs. But in the denser residential neighborhoods, they can be neatly tucked away between buildings or even under a tree canopy and are more pleasant that on-street dining. NYC food vendors are what make it such a unique city in the US. Most downtowns feel so dead, partially due to no foot traffic being generated by small things like this.

[@alexbutler9343]

I commend you for taking a stand with your opinion. I don't agree with many of things you said but we absolutely need healthy critiques of the popular urbanist trends in order to make them better. Outdoor dining absolutely isn't always good, it's situational. People like to simplify things and urbanists are no different. Everything in its context. The biggest issue we can all agree on as urbanists is cars are given too much space.

[@SofaSpy]

Very interesting that youtube recommended this video (as a notification) and other small channels this week. Good vid 👍

[@terriny_crowned]

the way i agree with the outdoor seating and the food vendors sm its unreal

[@TheLumpyShield]

Idk man, you lost me. Food vendors are great to get a cheap, but good, meal. I'm even friendly with my local food vendor. The BS vendors may sell cheap and stolen items, but they're also good if you need something fast like a hat or gloves, etc. Scaffolding might be an "eyesore" but on a hot day or when it's raining, they are a godsend. If the sidewalk is broken, maybe be more mindful of where you step ...

[@swayne1441]

You are absolutely wrong about the food carts and to a lesser extent the vendors.

[@AndreiTupolev]

There does seem to be rather a tone of cynicism. "Restaurants just want to make money! The city just wants to make money by charging restaurants to do so!" Yes, surely any business would want to do the same. Pavement (i.e. sidewalk) cafés have been a feature of life in many European cities for many hundreds of years, although it is usually just a few tables and chairs and sunshades/umbrellas rather than those huge sheds. I guess the climate makes them necessary. Of course, the obvious solution is to close the whole street to traffic, so then there's plenty of space for everyone 😊

[@ThePathbauer]

To be fair, that outdoor dining on the street is also a thing in europes big cities. At least Madrid is full of those.

[@desrtflower33]

great job

[@michaelmcchesney6645]

Dozens per minute? You must walk a bit faster than I do these days. My building has had scaffolding since shortly after I moved in 4 1/2 years ago. I actually like having it up. I'm disabled and use Access a Ride quite a bit. While that service is much cheaper than Uber, the downside is that the taxis it dispatches are often late. Having the scaffolding gives me a shaded, dry place to sit and wait. The downside is that there are limited places where I can enter under the scaffold because the openings in the scaffolding often have too little room between parked cars to fit my walker. I tell my drivers to let me off at the corner, but they often decide to do me a "favor" and not stop until they are in front of my building entrance, which requires me to walk back to the corner. But all things considered, I find the scaffolding a net positive.

[@dubreil07]

Shockingly you didn’t talk about the garbage piles. Those are the worst to me

[@fourth_place]

Might make a part 2, lol

[@JoshCalicho]

Bro’s classist and speaks like he doesn’t know it yet🧍

[@FerdinandCesarano]

I agree about the illegal vendors selling crap. But I do not agree about the food carts, which enhance the outdoor experience. They are also a very convenient place for a bicyclist to get some water, more convenient than a store. I also think that the outdoor dining is mostly good, with a few conditions. First and most important, there should never be outdoor dining where the outdoor tables are set up on the other side of a bike lane from the main restaurant. This should be illegal. Second, outdoor dining should take place only during the summer and during the pleasant parts of the spring and autumn. During the cold weather, many sheds and tables take up sidewalk space while nobody is using them.

[@501lilspoon]

Aw the street vendors are cool and the food is nice to have everywhere

[@samuelbock8550]

While I don't agree with all your points (street vendors - as others have said), I do appreciate you making this video. I was in Manhattan for work this July - and it's a fucking battleground to just walk anywhere. But, as others have said, we need to get rid of (or at least reduce) vehicular traffic. Street vendors should be in parking spaces. Widen sidewalks. Institute pedestrian only streets. Etc., etc.

[@pavelow235]

11:55 MAINTENENCE and Construction vehicles, slippery slope indeed.

[@chrispontani6059]

What is New York’s metro operations? It’s the subway. That’s what it’s called. You call the London Underground by its proper name. It’s the SUBWAY!!!

[@johnornelas]

People need to WALK FASTER and be aware of their surroundings in nyc. Ive lived here for almost 7 years and holy crap the inconsiderate attittues of people sharing oublic spaces in this city is wild. People standing idly in the middle of a busy sidewalk, people stopping in the middle of a stairwell with a bunch of people all moving down together, etc. and the stereotyoe that new yorkers walk fast is a total lie. Trying to powerwalk anywhere in a hurry in nyc is a fools errand

[@rockylikm]

Yeah this video was 100% made by someone who doesnt live in NYC, talking about NYC. A misunderstanding of culture and A complete omission of the outer boroughs and transit deserts

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

Yeah, solution is not to use a telephoto lens to compress distance for the "crowded" shot and a wide angle for the "breezy Mayberry sidewalk" shot.

[@a.n.6374]

10:00 except over here in Eastern Europe, where it looks exactly like what you show :D

[@SigmaRho2922]

The pedestrian zone should be expanded west to the west side highway.

[@BenShutUp]

This video is so needed! Leaders and urban planners need to aggressively expand high use sidewalks with more tenacity that has been focused on expanding highways with heavy traffic. Also, yes that illegal street vendor and old scaffolding problem is such an annoyance and would be an easy fix.

[@zeroblade9800]

Say it with me, If it makes the city money, they look the other way.

[@teddyholcomb4768]

This is a terrible take. The only things making this place less walkable are the bicyclists who don’t follow traffic laws and ride electric bikes at 40 miles an hour into children and the elderly who aren’t looking.

[@ltandrepants]

don’t forget bike delivery

[@gnlzjavier]

I get why you complained about the street trucks and vendors, because they ARE taking away space from the sidewalks, but they are a great part of food culture in all cities, and taking them away would be a detriment to the culture and people. Also, no need to sound so elitist talking about the food being bad or it being of poorer quality. Relax.

[@LibertyWines]

The real peril & danger are electricied bikes & scooters ! That's the real pedestrian peril in 2024. They are not regulated & mame pedestrians & people.

[@philparisi9175]

Boston is a walkable city....

[@adofoi30]

Manhattanites, really? The anti car people are not from NYC.!

[@Dee--]

claiming my pass

[@benjaminbyrd5568]

Bro you’re trippin bro

[@fourth_place]

nah bro

[@Realtravel1]

Only spending time in the wealthiest parts of Manhattan which has some of the best transit connections is not representative of the entirety of NYC. Imagine working until 2AM and one lives in an area without a subway station with bus service operating once an hour, this is only one example of why vehicles are necessary. Street vendors do, unnecessarily, narrow the sidewalks.

[@AndreiTupolev]

The junk markets do look like something straight out of Yemen, but surely the food vendors have always been an intrinsic part of New York Life? It still looks far, far preferable to LA

[@BernellJonesII]

You’re definitely not a NYC resident. Many people in ny and nj and Staten Island hate the idea of congestion pricing and we are glad it’s halted. It would kill small businesses in the central business district, little Italy, and Chinatown. Plus it wouldn’t decrease cars by that much. Anyone who lives here would know that. MTA (who the money would go to) gets billions of dollars yet has had a history of losing and mishandling those funds. They don’t need that extra money, they need to be audited. They’ve had the resources for years to improve the trains without the need for congestion pricing. Plus congestion pricing would tax the hell out of people who work in ny but life in NJ and Staten Island which btw they already have to pay a $17 toll just to get into the city

[@patronjames9841]

He just wants nyc to cater to tourists not to the actual residents 😂😂😂

[@dennisdriscoll7830]

Trucks would be charged anywhere from $24 to $36. Therefore, the price of everything sold in this area would rise. If the MTA needs more money, crack down on farebeaters who cost transit 700M per year!

[@dubreil07]

Shockingly you didn’t talk about the garbage piles. Those are the worst to me

[@TuggzDem]

Because NYC doesn’t have a lot of back alleys to hide trash where else would they put trash?