New York City begins to set up zoning regulations in Times Square

Workers had started to paint New York's Times Square into different colored zones from Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, as part of the city's effort to regulate pedestrian flow and street performers activities.

Four patches of teal blue-colored zones had been installed by Thursday afternoon between 45th and 47th streets in the square by the city's Department of Transportation.

A total of eight blue zones will be set up as the "designated activity zones", which are the only places for costumed performers and panhandlers to pose photos with tourists and ask for tip.

Other parts of the square will be designated as a green-colored "chill zone", with tables and chairs for people to hang around and enjoy the buzzing neon lights.

Purple-colored "express lanes" will also be installed alongside the streets, in which pedestrians in a hurry can get through the square without commercial hassle.

The three-colored zoning plan was passed by the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Bill de Blasio back in April, as an effort to address the increased "aggressive" behaviors by street performers and costumed characters.

Earlier this year, a Spider-Man character was arrested for kicking a tourist. In another similar incident, a man offering "free hugs" in the square was accused of punching a Canadian woman who refused to give him a tip.

Locals embraced the zoning plan, while street performers had expressed mixed feelings.

"To get to work is an everyday hassle, you have to constantly tell the performers that you're not a tourist," said Mike O' Hara who works at a nearby coffee shop.

"I don't like it, but at the same time I agree with the city's work," said Patricia Cruz, a street performer dubbed "Naked Cowgirl" who plays guitar in her underwear around the square.

Cruz said the regulations were necessary to counter some of the violence happened before, and believed that although her movement would be limited, she won't make less money after the zoning plan gets enforced.

"I think this is good for everybody," said Cruz.

The paint work will continue through the following weeks and are expected to finish later this month. Endit