Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Central Park

Central Park Above 72nd Street Is Now Car-Free Forever

By Stephen Miller | Jun 29, 2015 | 35 Comments

Last week, people walking and biking on the Central Park loop had to worry about taxi drivers and car commuters motoring through the park as a rush hour shortcut. This morning was different: Above 72nd Street, you could ride your bike, walk your dog, or go for a run on a safer, quieter path with a lot […]

De Blasio Gets More Cars Out of Central Park and Prospect Park

By Ben Fried | Jun 18, 2015 | 23 Comments

Starting in a few weeks, people will be able to enjoy the Central Park loop north of 72nd Street and the west side of Prospect Park year-round without having to worry about motor vehicle traffic, Mayor de Blasio and Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg announced this morning. The changes will significantly reduce motor vehicle traffic in both parks while stopping short of […]

Car-Free Parks: The Anticipation Builds

By Brad Aaron | May 22, 2015 | 22 Comments

When City Council members Mark Levine and Helen Rosenthal withdrew a bill that would have made the entire Central Park loop car-free for three summer months, the assumption was that City Hall was preparing to lead on the issue. “The council members have been working with the administration on this, and things are moving forward outside of the legislative process,” […]

Will City Hall and DOT Finally Commit to Car-Free Parks This Summer?

By Stephen Miller | Apr 21, 2015 | 12 Comments

Spring is here, and that means the loops in Central Park and Prospect Park are increasingly crowded, with cyclists, joggers, and walkers squeezed by rush-hour traffic. Will the de Blasio administration finally make the parks car-free this summer? Last year, DOT repeated the same partially car-free regime in Central Park that the Bloomberg administration introduced in 2013. While the loop north of […]

Eyes on the Street: The Part of Central Park That’s Only for Cars

By Stephen Miller | Dec 1, 2014 | 90 Comments

The Central Park loop now has a 20 mph speed limit, new lane markings, and shorter pedestrian crossings during car-free hours. The changes, implemented last week, came in response to two pedestrian fatalities in separate bicycle collisions over the summer. The park’s traffic signals remain unchanged, and the park is still a shortcut for taxis […]

If Central Park Was Car-Free, New Safety Measures Could Be in Place 24/7

By Ben Fried | Nov 18, 2014 | 36 Comments

Four major pedestrian crossings on the Central Park loop will be redesigned to shorten walking distances and alert approaching drivers and cyclists, the city announced today. The new crossing treatments are part of a package that will also lower the speed limit on the loop from 25 to 20 mph. Two people were killed by […]

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