An estimated 50 million foreign and American tourists visit New York City each year, and if you dare venture to Times Square, it certainly seems like that's where they all congregate. Luckily, a solution for the clog of crowds, panhandlers, hot dog peddlers, costumed characters, ticket sellers, and those desperate just to cross through Midtown has been developed—and it's color-coded.
Issued Wednesday by the Department of Transportation, a new map of the so-called Crossroads of the World divides the area between West 47th Street and West 42nd Street into three designated areas: the lime-green "Chill Zone," where visitors can sit, eat, and take in the sights; a violet "Express Lane" designated for walking “without commercial hassle, interference, or encumbrances”; and azure-blue "Designated Activity Zones" where characters in costume—and out of them—can pose for photos. Signage communicates what activity zones people should be in, and there will also be penalties for violators, said Robert O’Hare, commanding officer of the Times Square unit.
According to the Times Square Alliance, a backer of the initiative and a non-profit working to improve and promote Times Square, 61 percent of Times Square employees reported having a negative encounter with costumed characters, and 51 percent of those people said the interaction made them feel unsafe. In the past, the area has been marked by several notable incidents: a Spider-Man in 2014 was accused of assaulting a police officer; and last month a man offering "Free Hugs" attacked a tourist for not tipping him.
Those in favor of the Times Square revamp can breathe a sigh of relief: Line and zone painting has already begun, and full enforcement of the new rules begins June 21.
