Open Plans uses tactical urbanism, grassroots advocacy, policy and targeted journalism to promote structural reforms within city government that support livable streets, neighborhoods and the city-at-large.

OpenPlans engages in grassroots and cultural advocacy around issues of safe streets, traffic reduction, public space management, people-centered design, and livability.

Although streets are invaluable public space in a dense city like New York, the Department of Transportation focuses on optimizing them almost entirely for the movement and storage of private vehicles.

Open Plans identified a need to advocate for building and managing public spaces that foster safety, joy, care and connection.

Campaigns include advocating for an Office of Public Space Management, promoting traffic-calming measures and street redesigns that benefit pedestrians (such as a neckdowns), and eliminating parking minimums for new construction of buildings.

By redefining what the word “neighborhood” really means, StreetopiaUWS’ vision includes streets that are lively, green and healthy places where neighbors meet, kids play and people move efficiently and safely by bike and on foot.

[11] Streetsblog is a project run by OpenPlans providing a daily news source connecting people to information about sustainable transportation and livable communities.