“Cars dominate urban space in countless ways. In spite of this, the environmental movement has aimed to challenge the very notion of a presumed right of cars to dominate public streets. Faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of creating spaces for bike and nonpolluting transportation in the mean streets of New York City, environmental activists made use of a politics of play and theatrics to engage others in the struggle for nonpolluting transportation.”

Ben Shepard, The Beach Beneath The Streets: Contesting New York’s Public Spaces

Time’s Up! environmental organization leads rides through New York City’s great parks to help make the park roads auto-free. Called “traffic-calming rides,”these non-confrontational rides have been occurring for over a decade. Participants enjoy peaceful jaunts around the parks’ loop roads, and slow car traffic during that time. Read more here.