Changes to Broadway

During the weekend changes were made to traffic on Broadway- in fact there is to be no traffic on Broadway between 47th Street and 42nd St except for traffic on the cross streets. So in effect it is a pedestrian mall.
On my way to work the media was out interviewing cabbies and anyone stopped at the traffic lights to see what they thought. One report ...here
I need more time to check it out but the little folding chairs in the middle of the road seemed a tad odd but guess they are for use until there is other seating and more elaborate arrangements.