Bills Banning Cars From Central Park, Prospect Park Introduced

John Del Signore/Gothamist

City Council member Gail Brewer and other Council members are introducing legislation today that would dramatically change the way drivers and cyclists use the city's most beloved parks. One bill would change the traffic lights to flashing yellow during hours when motorists are prohibited from Central Park's main drive. And a second bill would entirely eliminate motorists from the main drive (the crosstown transverses would remain open).

Currently, Central park is closed to traffic on Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning, and weekends from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Monday. (Prospect Park's car hours are even more restrictive.) In 2006, Brewer introduced a similar bill to rid the park of cars, and the DOT proposed a car-free Central Park summer trial in 2007. Both ideas died on the vine. Could this time be different? Part of the motivation this time around stems from cyclists who reside near Central Park and have endured a crackdown in recent months for biking through red lights and, yesterday, speeding.

A DOT source tells us the department is not in favor of changing the lights to flashing yellow, and the Bloomberg administration hasn't commented on the legislation, but Brewer tells the Post, "I think the powers that be, the [city] agencies, would like to get rid of the cars" in parks. There is always a challenge of safety in the park, even in the off hours. It's like Grand Central station in terms of joggers, bikers, skateboarders, online skaters and cars." Great, next thing you know she'll want to stop you from driving through Grand Central. Where will it end?!

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By John Del Signore in News on March 23, 2011 12:33 PM

Comments [rss]

lisanyc

As a pedestrian who tries to enjoy walking through the park, i hate that i should have to look out for cars and stay on the sidewalk. it doesn't make any sense that i should have to walk on a sidewalk in the park so i don't get hit by a car!

And that i have to breathe cars'/trucks' exhaust while i am walking or running in what is supposed to be a park. how does this square with the mayor's alleged environmental/green platform? allowing cars in central park is definitely the opposite of a green idea.

randomtransplant

The worst part about park traffic is how it comes in spurts right when you least expect it. You can't just relax - you constantly have to look over your shoulder & everybody on the path waits for the five or six car spurts to rumble by, basically interrupting everything for everyone else.

The second worst part about park traffic is how pointless it is unless you want to skip traffic the entire rest of the city grid handles. Closed off loops that don't really go anywhere are further away from where-ever your destination is by design. Obviously, Central park has cross-town exceptions Prospect doesn't.

The third worst part about traffic in the park is that it provides needless competition to pedi-cabs & horse carriages.

If people truly needed to drive into the parks to access them, they wouldn't sell thousands of tickets to pedestrian concert-goers.

I'm sure we're all preaching to the choirs on this one though.

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

What purpose does the car lanes serve? Is it really used as a north south artery?
The only time I used the park car lanes was when I had my motorcycle tuned up, brakes and all and wanted to ride in a relatively calm traffic area.

Roman

do they really let loud motorcycles into parks? isn't it kinda obnoxious, considering people are trying to relax in a "calm" area and all? I'm not trying to directly criticize you, but I'm just genuinely surprised.

JTE123

Motorcycles don't have to be loud... only obnoxious, self-involved motorcycle owners have loud motorcycles (regardless of the "safety" rhetoric they like to spout).

Roman

Really? I've never seen/heard a quiet motorcycle - good to know. Unless you count scooters.

kevd

In Prospect is is more complicated, because the only way to drive to the parking lot for Wollman rink is by means of a small part of the loop.

I wish the rink redesign had included a little underpass for a vehicle entrance to that lot so that PP actually could become car free.

JTE123

This is NOT an issue... if they didn't have to maintain the flow of traffic for full traffic usage, they could reconfigure a very short route to the Wollman Rink parking lot. It would take almost no effort, probably just a couple of signs and some painted lines.

kevd

Hmm.
What you are describing is how it works now during "traffic free hours". Except with cones instead of lines. There is only one traffic lane from Parkside to the lot to the Lincoln Rd exit, and if car free hours were extended to all the time, they would still need 1 traffic lane there. Your solution is nearly identical to what I'm saying is the problem.

So, it IS an issue, (though maybe not a big issue, and yes, I'm nitpicking here). It precludes the possibility of a totally car free park loop - (not that car free everywhere else isn't an improvement over the current situation).

My point is, millions are being spend to restore an island in the lake, but more people would have their park experience improved if that money were spent separating recreational bike and running traffic from auto traffic going to the lot (which they are also relocating and rebuilding, along with the rink).

Rocknrope

Marty Markowitz and Schumer's wife just simultaneously shit their pants.

johnnieutah

Banning cars on all but the transverses through Central Park should be a no-brainer! Who supports the status quo?

HypocraticOath

If they continue to allow cars, then I expect the police to ticket every driver who goes above 15 (or is that 25) mph.

Automocar

I have never heard a sensible explanation for why cars were allowed in the park to begin with, so this is good news and I hope it passes.

diablofreak

they should ban cars and completely make NYC bikes-only.
drivers are such jerks.

john sanders

I don't understand who the vested interests are in keeping cars in the park. I have very rarely heard any opposition to this very sensible proposal.