Times Square’s web slingers and caped crusaders are going to be a little more cramped — the City Council passed a bill on Thursday that will restrict their movements to keep them from blocking pedestrian pathways.
Council members voted for the bill by a resounding 42-1, with some saying the tightening of rules is necessary to rein in chaos that has taken over the Crossroads of the World.
“People should be able to visit Times Square and experience the quirkiness and edginess that makes it unique without having to run in the other direction every time they see Spider-Man,” said Councilman Dan Garodnick.
Spidey Abdelamin El-Khezzani, 37, who has been arrested four times while wearing his costume in Times Square, was one of a handful of performers who showed up to protest the new rules.
After the vote, El-Khezzani, José Escalona, who usually dresses as Batman, and a man dressed as The Penguin cornered the Transportation Committee chair, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez.
“This is a Times Square phobia,” said El-Khezzani. “We are entitled to freedom of expression . . . We will not be in these boxes.”
Under the new rules, the DOT will create about eight taped-off “commercial areas” of 10 feet by 15 feet where desnudas, costumed characters, and ticket hawkers could operate. They would not be allowed to work in separate pedestrian-flow areas.
Even though the desnudas will have to stay corralled if they want to collect money, topless women are still allowed in the pedestrian flow zones and any other public spaces around the city, said Councilman Corey Johnson.
“If you want to walk around topless and are nor soliciting tips or posing for photos and trying to engage in commercial activity, it is allowed,” he said.
Councilman Robert Cornegy (D-Brooklyn) was the lone no vote.
DOT officials said they plan to have the zones in place by early summer.