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NYC Summer Streets is back this month and bigger than ever, with 22 miles of car-free roads

From Queens to Inwood, NYC's streets go car-free for five Saturdays of fitness, art, live music and family-friendly fun

Laura Ratliff
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Laura Ratliff
Summer Streets 2023
The City of New York | Summer Streets 2023
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Clear your calendars and dust off your sneakers: NYC Summer Streets is rolling back into town and this year it’s stretching further, louder and more joyfully than ever before. Kicking off July 26 and running for five Saturdays across all five boroughs, the citywide celebration will transform more than 22 miles of traffic-jammed roads into a human-powered playground of free fitness classes, live performances, art installations and plenty of icy freebies.

In honor of the city’s 400th anniversary, this year’s edition is doubling down on scale and energy, with more than 400 blocks of car-free bliss. For the first time, you’ll be able to walk, bike, jog—or cartwheel—your way from the Brooklyn Bridge to Inwood without seeing a single traffic light turn red. The Manhattan mega-route, open Aug. 2, 9 and 16, includes a Harlem activation along Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd with community programming and live entertainment.

The series kicks off July 26 in Queens and Staten Island. Expect waterfront views along Vernon Boulevard and a new Staten Island route on Forest Avenue, complete with giveaways from Coca-Cola, Siggi’s yogurt and FIFA’s Skyline to Shoreline Tour.

On Aug. 23, Brooklyn and the Bronx close out the season with routes along Eastern Parkway and the Grand Concourse, respectively. And if you’re the competitive type (or just need a reason to break in your new Hokas), the New York Road Runners Start Line Series is bringing free 2.5-mile and 5K community races to Queens and Brooklyn.

Summer Streets will also pack plenty of memorable moments along the route this year—think a giant inflatable soccer darts game from Brooklyn FC, photo ops with larger-than-life NYC letters, slushie samples from mushroom coffee brand RYZE and an interactive sculpture called Collective Bloom that turns your literal energy into art. There’s even a “Grand Lawn” pop-up at Park Avenue and 40th Street courtesy of Grand Central Terminal, complete with lawn games and snacks.

Everything’s free. It all happens rain or shine. And Citi Bike is even throwing in free 24-hour passes during the events (just use code LYFTSUMMER25).

No matter if you’re a Lycra-clad road warrior, a toddler on a scooter or just someone in search of a good popsicle and a little peace, this year’s edition of Summer Streets is ready to welcome you, no honking allowed.

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