The 2024 edition of New York City’s iconic Summer Streets celebration starts on Saturday, transforming busy city streets into vibrant, car-free zones for pedestrians and cyclists.
This year’s event will take place in all five boroughs, beginning with street closures and celebrations in Staten Island and along the Queens waterfront.
Summer Streets, which runs on Saturdays through Aug. 24, is more than just a car-free event, according to the city Department of Transportation. It’s an annual all-ages celebration of community, culture and active living — now across 20 miles of streets.
More than 500,000 people took part in Summer Streets last year, according to city officials. They’re calling this season’s event the “most ambitious” since the program began in 2008, as it will feature extended hours and activities throughout the city, including art installations, outdoor dining, music and a book fair.
Activities also include fitness classes, cultural performances and educational events. Food trucks and local vendors will be on hand at each site, while local businesses, cultural institutions and community organizations will host activities along each route. Storytelling sessions, collaborative art classes and intergenerational workouts aim to bring multiple age groups together.
In Queens and on Staten Island, visitors will learn traditional weaving with nontraditional materials to make a giant communal art installation of their own. Detailed schedules of planned events are available on the city’s website.
“Not many times are we able to walk through Park Avenue or ride a bike through Park Avenue without competing [for] space with vehicles,” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said.
Summer Streets had originally been a Manhattan-specific event, and its route was extended to East Harlem in 2022. But last year, it expanded to the other boroughs. Rodriguez said that bringing Summer Streets to more neighborhoods and allowing more New Yorkers to take part was about equity.
“New Yorkers who live in an upper-class, middle-class, working-class community, all of them can enjoy the same level of activation that we do around biking, walking, wellness, educational, entertainment and other activities,” Rodriguez said.
Citi Bike is also partnering with Lyft to offer free passes for all riders during Summer Streets. The promotion allows unlimited 30-minute rides on classic Citi Bikes for one day, using the code “CITYSUMMER24!”
Rodriguez emphasized that planned activities would be accessible, would accommodate people with sensory sensitivities, and that major activity hubs would feature ASL interpreters and guided tours for participants with sight issues.
“DOT takes accessibility very seriously, not only for those who are in wheelchairs, not only those who are visually impaired, but all New Yorkers,” he said.
Summer Streets takes place rain or shine. This weekend is expected to be mostly sunny, with temperatures reaching the upper-80s.
