Summer Streets - August 2, 2025

New York, NY — The rumble of engines gave way to the whir of bicycle tires and the laughter of pedestrians on Saturday, August 2, as the NYC Department of Transportation’s Summer Streets program returned to Manhattan for the first of three massive car-free Saturdays. Kicking off the borough's run, the event opened an unprecedented route spanning the entire length of Manhattan, from the Brooklyn Bridge all the way north to Inwood’s Dyckman Street.

From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., New Yorkers were invited to walk, bike, run, and play along the newly expanded 22-mile corridor, which wove its way through iconic thoroughfares like Lafayette Street, Park Avenue, East 110th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, and Broadway. This year’s expanded route, running over 400 blocks, is the largest in the program’s 17-year history and is part of a larger, five-borough summer celebration.

The day was a vibrant, moving festival of public space utilization, with crowds relishing the rare chance to reclaim the streets. Rest stops along the route provided a host of free activities, transforming traffic arteries into hubs of wellness and culture. The special Harlem rest stop on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, between 110th and 125th Streets, was a hive of activity, featuring everything from live performances to fitness classes. Major corporate sponsors also provided free refreshments and activities, keeping participants hydrated and energized for the long trek.