First Sabbath Street Closing to Vehicular Traffic Termed Success

The first phase of an experimental project to ban vehicular traffic from two Brooklyn neighborhoods densely populated by Orthodox Jews went into effect successfully yesterday. The closing of streets in the Williamsburg and Boro Park sections of Brooklyn from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. “delighted the residents” according to Rabbi Bernard Weinberger, a leader in the drive for the car ban. In Williamsburg, traffic was banned in an area which spanned half a mile. Festive Sabbath strollers exclaimed their delight at the opportunity to walk the streets free from the noise and fumes of trucks, cars and buses which usually jar the Sabbath quiet. A large number of pedestrians taking advantage of the first Sabbath street closing, which is unprecedented in this city, had been expected, but the smaller turnout was attributed to the cold weather. Those however, who did brave the fierce winds and biting cold, voiced their elation over the project, which was initiated in deference to the wishes of religious observant. Residents in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn reported similar success and delight over the experiment, which is to be extended indefinitely. No opposition to the ban of vehicular traffic was made by the non-religious Jews or non-Jews in either of the neighborhoods.