The Oil Drum

It's just as important to give praise when something good happens as it is to criticize when something bad happens. Today, the Department of Transportation deserves praise for some of their recent activities that are embracing some of the new urbanist principles of creating pleasant walkable downtown areas. One example is their new plan near the Fulton Mall in Brooklyn to create a more pedestrian friendly area.

Work on a temporary plaza, which will be separated from traffic using planters and will include benches, chairs, tables and bike racks, is scheduled to begin in early May. If the project is successful, a permanent, raised plaza will be constructed, providing nearly 7,000 square feet of new, attractive public space for Downtown Brooklyn.

All I can say is "amen" and thanks DOT! Can we get some more of these spread out across every neighborhood?

Also check out Brooklyn resident [Aaron Naparstek's post http://www.naparstek.com/2006/03/pedestrian-mall-revolution.php].

Of course, there were problems, inconveniences, flared tempers, but let us focus on the good things that happened. Today New Yorkers everywhere showed their ability to adapt to changed circumstances. As my own way of giving thanks to all those who made the best of today, here's my 2005 transit strike thank you list: