Isn’t this a street fair? No. Williamsburg Walks is not a Street Fair. We are not renting tables and tents to outside vendors. There will be no funnel cake, and no cheap tube socks. We just want the community (YOU) to come out and enjoy the public space.

Why do this? If you create a community for cars, you get just that—more cars. If you make a community for pedestrians, you create an opportunity for community building— a place where people come together. This event has been inspired by successful temporary street closures in London, Tokyo, Bogota and many other cities around the world and is one of multiple temporary pedestrian closures expected to happen around the city this summer. Last year’s edition was in many regards a success thanks to the support of the driving forces of the community. This year, we are hoping to make it even more enjoyable for the residents, merchants, and visitors of North Brooklyn.

What about buses? The B61 Bus will be temporarily re-routed during the event. We will ensure that the route is well-marked.

What about trash? Last year after each event the streets were cleaner than the morning before the event. We will do the same. It is very much in our interest to ensure that this is a safe, clean and local event.

What about traffic and parking? We are putting our best into outreach to ensure that people are aware of the event and plan their routes accordingly. Unlike the New York City Marathon, this event is keeping the Bedford Avenue cross-streets open. A survey conducted last year by Transportation Alternatives showed minimal impact to traffic and parking during the events. Overall, there was an 8.37% reduction in traffic in the network. Most vehicles rerouted to Berry Street which saw the largest increase in northbound traffic. However, the increase on Berry Street was far smaller than the decrease on Bedford Avenue.

Who benefits from this event? Northside Brooklyn is a diverse and vibrant neighborhood that is rapidly changing with a newly revitalized waterfront and a series of re-zoning laws that have prompted increased development. We are practically spilling off the sidewalks as it is. We believe these events will benefit the entire community including long-term residents, recent arrivals, and businesses on and off Bedford Avenue. It is meant to be a breath of fresh air to the hustle and bustle that is Bedford Avenue on a Saturday Afternoon. As organizers of this event, we passionately believe that Northside Brooklyn is a remarkably diverse community and that this event is a unique opportunity to bring that community out, together, and into the streets to enjoy public space in a completely new way.