The third annual Williamsburg Walks festival was held over the past weekend. Bedford Avenue between N 4th and N 9th Sts was closed to traffic on Saturday and Sunday. Photo via nag-brooklyn.org
Residents in Williamsburg, Brooklyn have received negative attention lately for their “too cool” attitude toward the U.S. Census – the hipster enclave has the lowest rate of return (around 30 percent) in New York City. This is disparaging, considering that census data is crucial for local governments to cater public transport plans to neighborhoods’ needs.
Fortunately, though, Williamsburg’ers seem to like walking!
This weekend was the third annual Williamsburg Walks festival. (Watch this StreetFilm video covering the event back in 2008.)
The car-free weekend on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg was organized by Neighbors Allied for Good Growth and the L Magazine with support from the Project for the Public Spaces and the New York City Department of Transportation Weekend Walks program.
Festivals like this are a great way for local governments and neighborhood organizations to promote more livable streets and communities.
The event included walking tours of this neighborhood with a rich cultural heritage, public art, and skill shares.
Here are some more photos from the strictly car-free weekend on Bedford Avenue between North 4th and North 9th streets:
Williamsburg Walks was limited to just one weekend this year because merchants complained that previous, multi-weekend festivals had hurt business. Photo via John Del Signore, Gothamist.com
This year's festival featured a Death Parade. Photo via Ted Ullrich
Instead of using tires for cars, use them for plants! Photo via themikebot
