During weekends, jazz bands performed on street corners, friends gathered in the middle of the road, children rode their bikes, and diners sat at bistro tables placed on the asphalt. The sound of cars could be faintly heard in the distance. The early days of the pandemic confined New Yorkers indoors, but eventually, it encouraged them to go outside for fresh air, exercise, dining, and relaxation. This led to a natural transformation of the city's streets in all five boroughs. City officials allocated 83 miles of roadways for cyclists, runners, and pedestrians, allowed almost 11,000 restaurants to expand onto sidewalks and streets, and permitted retailers to extend their storefronts. People have taken back the streets and are not willing to give them up. Mayor Bill de Blasio has praised these initiatives, known as Open Streets, Open Restaurants, and Open Storefronts, as bright spots in an otherwise challenging time for the city. Originally a skeptic, de Blasio now believes that some pandemic-era experiments will become permanently integrated into New York City. The New York Times interviewed individuals who have benefited from Open Streets to gather their opinions on what should endure. The Times also consulted urban planner and architect, Claire Weisz of WXY Studio, to provide realistic and ambitious ideas based on successful models from other cities. Three streets that were part of the Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs were selected as examples applicable to the entire city. While Open Restaurants has been made permanent, the future of Open Streets is uncertain, although Mayor de Blasio hopes to see it continue in some form. The selected streets include Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights, 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, and Avenue B on the Lower East Side. Each street has its own unique potential for transformation and improvement. For example, Vanderbilt Avenue could become a popular destination by expanding the existing median and adding features like a performance stage. Monty had on a denim jacket and a bright pink mohawk, making Rosen feel like she was in a different continent. Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights was transformed into a bustling hub until Thanksgiving, with restaurants extending onto the street. Volunteers blocked cars with blue barricades on Saturday mornings, creating a space where people could sit and enjoy. Residents suggested adding more benches and tables, improving the bike lane, and allowing locals to have a say in the street's future. Some envisioned turning Vanderbilt into an events space with a stage for performances. Weisz proposed extending the median and adding public bathrooms to make the area more inviting. Medians could serve as loading and unloading zones for deliveries and new types of bike lanes could be added next to the median in order to accommodate fast bicyclists, commuters, and delivery workers. Copenhagen, a cycling-friendly city in Denmark, has successfully implemented this model with dedicated lanes for different types of riders. In Queens, 34th Avenue could potentially be transformed into a pedestrian promenade by expanding the existing median to create space for additional features such as workout areas and gardens. New Yorkers, like Laurie Gold, have embraced the idea of utilizing the median for recreational purposes, with many enjoying the Open Streets portion of 34th Avenue during the pandemic. Neighbors gather to socialize as children play in the street, while a nearby park provides a place for families to enjoy outdoor activities. Some residents hope for more commercial events, such as fairs and food trucks, to liven up the area. Despite the desire to maintain the neighborhood's residential feel, there is potential for more diverse activities on the street. The road is approximately 55 feet wide, with enough space for the median to be extended to the sidewalk on one side and create a one-way road on the other. This extended area would provide a large section for pedestrians and more greenery. The bike lane, currently situated between the roadway and parked cars, could be moved next to the sidewalk for safety reasons. Travers Park could potentially serve as an anchor, adding public bathrooms, space for vendors, and a workout area. The idea of adding public facilities like the Tokyo Toilet found in Shibuya, a major commercial center in Tokyo, could be considered. Converting Avenue B into a one-way street near Tompkins Square Park could make it more inviting to pedestrians. Residents in the neighborhood believe that more greenery, trees, and plants should be added to the sidewalks. The park is surrounded by fences, with paved entryways and benches along the paths. Trees and shrubs inside the park are also protected by fencing. Weisz explained that the fences were originally installed to prevent farm animals from entering the park, but later became a security measure. She suggested that removing the fences would create a more inviting atmosphere, with paths winding through the greenery for people to enjoy while maintaining social distance. She proposed using Barcelona's superblocks as a model for Avenue B, turning it into a one-way open street with wider space for public amenities like bathrooms. Slowing down traffic flow would improve safety in the area. Avenue B could also be improved by adding bike lanes and designated spaces for deliveries. Weisz described it as an ideal shared street. © 2020 The New York Times Company.