Broadway turned into the Great Tan Way yesterday as thousands of New Yorkers and tourists sunned in beach chairs right in the middle of Midtown’s newly car-free streets.
Lounging on a chair in a green bikini at Broadway and 44th Street, Theresa Gamboa, 44, said it was strange to catch rays where she used to catch cabs.
“It’s weird to be looking at street signs while in my bathing suit,” the financial-services executive said.
Since Sunday, Broadway has been closed to traffic in Times and Herald squares as part of an initiative city officials contend will reduce traffic congestion and car accidents.
To celebrate the banishment of motor vehicles from the thoroughfare, the film “On the Town” was shown in the middle of Duffy Square, 45,000 hot dogs were given away by Hebrew National, and a slew of street performers entertained the dumbfounded crowds.
One problem: Many walked off with the free neon beach chairs provided by the Times Square Alliance.
“I am sure some of the chairs will disappear,” said an alliance employee. “You’ll be at the beach this summer, and you’ll think, ‘I recognize that chair.’ ”
Although anti-car activists have praised the plan, taxi drivers and other motorists complain that rerouting all Times Square traffic onto Seventh Avenue will worsen congestion.
Today will be the first real test for the pilot program, as normal rush-hour traffic returns to the city, Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said.
Taxi drivers were particularly incensed to hear that pedicabs may eventually be permitted to pick up fares in a new bike lane.
“It’s not right, it’s not fair,” cabby Ben Bamfo said. “If we’re not allowed, they shouldn’t be.”
Pedicab driver Orkut Utnu was able to navigate a Post reporter through the de-motorized zone, but said he had no plans to make a return trip.
“It’s impossible with so many people walking,” he said.
Yesterday, signs were put up asking cyclists to walk their bikes through the car-free zones, a rule some disregarded.
Street musicians said the experience of getting to play Broadway made other busking hot spots seem like Podunk stages.
“We get a lot more traffic here than in the Union Square subway,” said drummer David Askenazy. “People are here to listen and relax. In the subway, people are trying to get from Point A to Point B.”