Did you know that way back in the mid-to-late 1800s, downtown Broadway could have changed forever. And by change, we mean sidewalks that moved. With engines. Literally. (And no, we aren't kidding.) 

How exactly did this entirely absurd idea come about? 

Well, inventor and businessman Alfred Speer was fed up with the unbearable amount of pedestrians who crowded his wine storefront on Broadway, right near City Hall. 

So what did he wind up doing? What any good inventor would do. Of course. 

He came up with a steam-powered sidewalk that would loop up and down Broadway at ten miles per hour to help alleviate downtown Manhattan foot traffic.

[anad]

We know what you're asking yourself. What happened to this crazy idea?

Thankfully, John Dix, the then Governor of New York, shot it down because of its heft $3.7 million price tag, the overall interference it would cause with New York City's sidewalks, and its almost-too-wonky-for-those-days design. 

6sqft

Well done, Mr. Former Governor. 

We can't imagine a modern day city where people would actually have to do less. Actually scratch that... we forgot about Starbucks desk delivery. 

What If... the Dodgers Built a Domed Stadium & Never Actually Left Brooklyn?

[via 6sqft]