More LinkNYC Kiosks May Come To Upper West Side

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The Upper West Side may get new LinkNYC kiosks at five new locations, according to a Community Board 7 agenda.

The city Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications and Citybridge — the organization that will install new LinkNYC kiosks — are applying to continue deployment of the multi-use terminals on the Upper West Side.

The targeted locations are:

• 2 Columbus Avenue between West 59th and 60th streets;
• 111 West 60 Street on the corner of Columbus Avenue;
• 40 Columbus Avenue near West 61st Street;
• 322 Columbus Avenue between West 75th and 76th streets;
• 100 West 77th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues.

Thousands of LinkNYC kiosks have been installed across New York City, many of them on the Upper West Side, in a venture to replace outdated payphones. The terminals provide free wi-fi access, phone charging and assistance with directions. The terminals have also been deployed for more creative uses such as sending Valentines Day messages and functioning as bus countdown clocks.

While the kiosks have their uses, there has been some negative backlash. Some people simply don't like how they look, and internet browsing was removed from the terminals because some New Yorkers were using them to watch porn in public.

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images