I want a Spring Street (East/West) Greenway for pedestrians, cyclists, and perhaps (we can dream, no?) even a street car or bus lane!

This would be a perfect compliment to the new bike lanes on Bleeker and Prince Streets and would solve the vexing problems pedestrians and cyclists and tourists have just 1 block south on Canal Street where car traffic from the Holland Tunnel isn't going anywhere soon. A Spring Street Greenway would provide a wonderful west-east alternative ideal for cyclists and pedestrians.

There are a few reasons why this would work:

1. Spring is a wider-than average Street. There are several parking lots on Spring that are soon to be condos, and one could even give developers some parking concessions if we could reclaim the street, and ban private cars and parking from Spring.
2. Riding my bike on Spring, I rarely encounter much car traffic , since most West Side Highway traffic heads for Canal. Spring is a full 10 blocks south of Bleeker and heads straight east, so it would be a great compliment to the south-east Bleeker route. it is somewhat of an oasis (at least for now).
3. A car-free Spring w a street car up the center and a separate bike lane would be a great fit for the SoHo retail/gallery/hotel/tourism environment.
4. There’s a real spring under Spring Street that would make for a great restoration! See ­it for yourself on Egbert Viele’s classic 1865 map (turn off the pop-up blocker on your web browser, select the "view larger, zoomable image" tool  for a close up!). Imagine a natural cool spring running in a trough by the sidewalk that could offer energy-free open air conditioning and cooling in summer months similar to what one finds in the German city of Freiburg, one of Jahn Gehl's favorite destinations. According to the Wikipedia entry:
   
   "The city has an unusual system of gutters (called Bächle) that run throughout its centre. These Bächle, once used to provide water to fight fires and feed livestock, are constantly flowing with water diverted from the Dreisam river. The Bächle were never used for sewage, as such usage could lead to harsh penalties, even in the Middle Ages. During the summer, the running water provides natural cooling of the air, and offers-up a pleasant, gurgling sound.
   
   "It is said that if you step in a Bächle, you will marry a Freiburger, or 'Bobbele'."
   
   If you search for ”Thermal comfort in an east-west oriented street canyon in Freiburg Germany under hot summer conditions” you can find a scientific article about it. But anyone who has visited lovely Frieburg can attest to the pleasant effects!