NEW YORK – New York City is gearing up for a season of openness and sustainability as the 2025 Open Streets initiative launches on Saturday, April 26. This year’s kickoff aligns with Car-Free Earth Day, a day dedicated to reducing vehicular traffic and promoting environmentally friendly practices across the five boroughs.

Overview of the Open Streets Initiative

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has announced its commitment to making the Open Streets program a permanent fixture in the city. This initiative will commence with 127 designated locations for the 2025 season, offering a vibrant atmosphere filled with free activities and educational programming aimed at increasing public engagement and awareness surrounding sustainability.

Car-Free Earth Day Celebrations

The Car-Free Earth Day festivities are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., creating a nexus of car-free streets and plazas interconnected with NYC’s extensive bike network of over 1,000 miles. Each venue will host various community programs emphasizing environmental education and the importance of climate change awareness.

“This year’s monumental Car-Free Earth Day celebration will feature exciting programming, music, and activities for New Yorkers from all walks of life at numerous car-free streets throughout the five boroughs,” stated NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.

Featured Activities and Programs

Participants can engage in a wide array of activities at signature locations, including:

• Free bike repairs by the 5 Borough Bike Club in Union Square, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.
• Indigenous dance performances at Dyckman Street by The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers.
• An art walk led by the Museum of Urban Arts in the Garment District.
• Environmental education panels with WE ACT for Environmental Justice in Times Square and Manhattan.
• Learn-to-ride bike classes with Bike New York in Union Square and St. Nicholas Avenue.
• Musical performances by Mia Soleil Sanchez at the Broadway Green Alliance Stage and Iqbal Hossain Jibon in Queens.
• Distribution of free bike helmets by NYC DOT Safety Education in Brooklyn.
• Fitness sessions with UNI Energy in Queens.
• Rollerblading activities with Let’s Roll NYC in the Bronx.
• Healthy living resources associated with Bronx Health REACH in the Bronx.
• Performances by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus in Staten Island, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.
• Volleyball games organized by Bameso USA Volleyball in Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.

Additionally, 47 Open Street and Plaza locations will feature extra car-free events throughout the day.

Public Art Installations

To further signify the city’s commitment to environmental awareness, NYC DOT Art has commissioned five public artworks addressing ecological themes:

• Rising. Curtains by Anjali Deshmukh and Ernest Verrett: A beaded curtain sculpture visualizing global temperature changes, located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
• Asphalt Asters by Molly Gambardella: Giant plastic bag flowers blooming in Flatiron, Manhattan.
• NYC Art Stop Letters by Caitlin Keegan: Botanical-themed sculptures spelling “NYC” located in Times Square, Manhattan.
• Branching by Ishita Jain: Posters celebrating New York City’s oldest trees displayed on bus shelters throughout the city.

Future of the Open Streets Program

As the 2025 Open Streets season progresses, additional locations will be introduced, further expanding the initiative’s reach across the city. Updated maps and operational hours can be found at nyc.gov/OpenStreets, and detailed programming for Car-Free Earth Day can be accessed at nyc.gov/carfreenyc.

Moreover, free Citi Bike rides will be available throughout the day on April 26 by using the promo code CARFREENYC25 in the Citi Bike app’s “Day Pass” section.