I was in Central Park this morning and there were park employees standing in the bike lane during red lights with stop signs. When I came to a stop, I casually mentioned that it would be nice if we could do something about keeping all of these cars out of the park.

I could not agree more. Attrition of motor vehicles by cities. Sound familiar?? Yes! Jane Jacobs wrote about it more than 40 years ago!

Of course, kudos to TA for advocating Car-Free Central Park (and let’s not forget Prospect Park) and pushing this issue.

The study is available here:

http://www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/reports/harlem_traffic_magnet.pdf

Moreover, cars on the loop routinely exceed the 25 MPH speed limit. If ever there was a roadway with “excess capacity” in need of a “road diet,” it is the Central Park Loop. Not to mention the fact that there are far more bicyclists and pedestrians clamoring for use of that excess cpacity than there are motorists. The allocation of space on the loop is absurd no matter how you look at it.

Get the cars out of the park. Also, let’s get the people on wheels of all types who use the park roads to stop at the damned red lights, weekends included. Getting across the road with a two-year-old even in a marked crosswalk at a red light is an adventure in timing and luck.

I’m starting to think legal protests and civil disobedience might force the city’s hand. I went on the Central Park traffic calming ride last month–what about a massive traffic-calming ride or having a mass of pedestrians and cyclists take over the loop or block the entrances?

Hi – Does any one know CP Conservancy’s role in this? I havent seen them pushing against cars. Surely they should be advocating on this?

There should be “no honking” signs with the large fines on the park roads same as on city streets.

In addition to the NYPD, parks enforcement people should be empowered to issue tickets, and ultimately, ban those drivers with multiple offenses.

Those individuals endangering others by driving recklessly, honking, and tailgating others using the park roads should be banned immediately and for life.

#16 Spud Spudly, Drivers mistakenly think they have the right to direct traffic with their horns. They do not and the no-honking signs state this explicitly. And, they definitely do not have the right to harass which they do.

The only permission they have to use their horns is in the case of an emergency as a warning and to hopefully prevent a catastrophe. If a child or someone else using the park mistakenly goes into the park road — which is natural during play and park use — and is in danger of being hit then that would constitute an emergency.

Though, this type of situation does not seem justifiable. When a car or truck moves in the Union Square Farmers Market they “creep” along and there is always at least one individual to assist to make sure no one is hurt.

The same kind of care and consideration should be taken in our parks, even though cars are allowed to move faster than a creep and perhaps, additional signs should posted for car drivers to be considerate, drive safely, and slow down when their are other people in the road.

It just may be possible to set the “tone” that horn honking and reckless endangerment by cars in our parks be considered much more serious – not to mention antisocial — offenses.

This could be done by signage affirming the laws by DOT. And, by the Parks Department affirming the nature of parks and cautioning drivers to slow down if they see children even playing by the side of the road like “Caution! Children at Play.”

Compliance with a law does not necessarily have to depend on heavy enforcement such as with “scoop the poop,” and optimally, depends on the best in people.

People are less likely to honk or honk excessively on a beautiful tree lined residential street. It should be possible to set the same tone for parks and with the extra effort to make drivers aware of this since they are isolated in their cars.

Dare we invite them for a stroll?

And, out of most, if not all of the city also.

Just that the powers that be have a hard time (dare I say) thinking big enough to make it happen.

I’m seeing so much behavior in Central Park that looks wrong that I’m actually wondering if I’m confused about the rules. I wrote up a bunch of questions – any help would be greatly appreciated:

1 – who, besides Parks vehicles, can drive on the park drive during the times that it is off limits to MVs?? I go around 10am and I often see cars between 10 and 10:30 am. Most are livery cabs, doing more than 25 mph, and I’ve seen them go right by squad cars while the cops do nothing.

2 – During the hours that MVs are permitted on the park drives, or between E. 59th and E. 72nd where they are always permitted, is the bike lane mandatory for cyclists? A cop yelled at me when I was in the left MV lane, because the combined jogging/cycling lane was so crowded.

3 – Are horse&buggies allowed in the jogging/cycling lane? Pedicabs? I’ve seen pedicabs between E. 59th and E. 72nd in the combined joggling/cycling lane, and it’s not easy to pass them if there’s two lanes of MV traffic.

4 – Is the “counter clockwise rule” a hard and fast rule, or a guideline? Are runners and cyclists going clockwise required to yield? Sometimes they stare me down like they’re saying “make my day”.

I think some problems arise because many people are ignorant of the rules. People going clockwise may have no idea they’re not supposed to. There are signs on the reservoir track, why not on the Park drive?

Thanks guys for helping out a novice.