HOBOKEN —Beginning on Sunday, June 13th, Sinatra Drive between Fouth and 11th streets will be closed to through vehicular traffic and open for recreational use from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the months of June, July and August, the city said Tuesday.
The closing of Sinatra Drive dates back to at least 1998 when the City Council passed a resolution closing the street on Sundays during summer months.
“With 95 percent of trips in Hoboken taking place on foot, making our city more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly remains a top priority,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “Sinatra Summer Sundays is an opportunity for residents to teach their kids to ride a bike, enjoy a stroll along our waterfront, or go for a jog without worrying about traffic.”
The Sinatra Summer Sundays street closure is being closely coordinated with Hoboken Police and Fire Departments to emphasize the continued safety of residents and visitors.
And what does that mean for parking on the street?
Individuals with official handicapped plates may access designated handicapped parking spaces along the waterfront by traveling with due caution and care for the increased foot traffic at speeds no greater than 5 M.P.H. Individuals who have parked along Sinatra Drive are encouraged to leave their vehicle parked during the posted closure period; however, those who wish to remove a vehicle during this time period may do so by exiting with due caution and care for the increased foot traffic at speeds no greater than 5 M.P.H.
In 2009, New York City instituted the successful Summer Streets program – three consecutive Saturdays during which a 7 mile route was closed to vehicular traffic. Summer Streets was largely inspired by Bogotá, Colombia’s “Ciclovia” – a weekly event that began more than 20 years ago in which 1.5 million residents enjoy the 70 miles of streets closed to traffic. Other cities with similarly successful programs include El Paso, Cambridge, Portland, Baltimore, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris and London.