Residents near East 188th Street and Fordham Road had clear streets from Valentine Avenue to Creston Avenue, all in honor of New York City's launch of Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day.
"I see kids playing around which is pretty cool because…it's a safer environment for them," said event attendee Souleymane Bah. "You don't see this very often, especially in the Bronx."
For the ninth year in a row, the city’s Department of Transportation hosted its Open Streets program throughout all five boroughs in celebration of Earth Day.
"Car-Free Earth Day is a chance for New Yorkers to enjoy [the] city's world-class streetscapes as open spaces for all," said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.
She also said it’s an effective way to reduce our carbon footprint.
This year, Car-Free Earth Day included 54 streets and plazas with many locations featuring public art and live performances.
Additionally, this year, Citi Bike offered free unlimited 30-minute rides for 24 hours for those who redeem free pass using promo code CARFREENYC25 on the “Day Pass” tab of the Citi Bike app.
"This is actually amazing," said Kyiesha Harper, a local resident. "[You can] walk the street, hold hands, ride the bikes, [and] ...just enjoy the simply things in the community."