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Bills Banning Cars From Central Park, Prospect Park Introduced
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 23, 2011
Modified Mar 23, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 23, 2011
Modified Mar 23, 2011
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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?!
Tagged
central park
central park traffic
gale brewer
parks
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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