The history of the streets in an urban landscape seems to be intricately tied in with the automobile and we wouldn’t envision a road without cars plying on them. But frankly, it never was that way to begin with. Streets and roads have always existed as a means to travel but the total dominance of cars on them is a recent phenomenon. Contested Streets: Breaking New York City Gridlock, a documentary highlighting the history and culture of New York City examines the role of the street from the pre-automobile era to the current gridlocked scenario. A recent report suggested that the city will face an all-day rush hour by 2030.

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