New York City Department of Transportation report says Open Streets program helped boost restaurant and bar business
New York — Bars and restaurants in New York City have seen a boost in business by allowing them to serve customers on sidewalks and streets during the pandemic, according to a new report from the New York City Department of Transportation.
DOT analyzed five open street corridors in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens and found that businesses in these corridors outperformed restaurants in streets with vehicular traffic.
“Average sales for these open streets were 19% above the pre-pandemic baseline, while nearby administrative corridors that were not open streets saw a 29% drop in business.”
However, some critics say the program has had a negative impact on the region.
Leslie Clarke of the West Village Residents’ Association said, “No one asked people living on so-called open streets if they wanted to put up with noise and rats 24 hours a day.
The association isn’t against outdoor dining, but says it wants to be part of the city’s conversation.
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-york-city-open-streets-report/ New York City Department of Transportation report says Open Streets program helped boost restaurant and bar business
