Closing Bell: Cops to Crack Down on Speeding Cyclists in Prospect Park
After a cyclist struck and killed a pedestrian in Central Park, the 78th Precinct is rolling out ways to get cyclists in Prospect Park to slow down and stop for pedestrians at lights. Park Slope Stoop attended the precinct’s local community council meeting last night, where the cops said they’re going to set up portable stop signs and…
After a cyclist struck and killed a pedestrian in Central Park, the 78th Precinct is rolling out ways to get cyclists in Prospect Park to slow down and stop for pedestrians at lights. Park Slope Stoop attended the precinct’s local community council meeting last night, where the cops said they’re going to set up portable stop signs and pedestrian-activated signals manned by officers during the day starting Saturday, October 4.
When cyclists stop at the signs, officers will remind them to stop for pedestrians at the signals and give out a flyer noting the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit. Eventually, Captain Frank diGiacomo said, if cyclists don’t stop for pedestrians, cops will pull out their radar guns and start giving out tickets.
“A summons blitz is just going to piss off a bunch of people, so education first,” he said. “But we’ll go there if we have to.”
Prospect Park Safety in the Spotlight Again Following Deadly Crash in Central Park [Park Slope Stoop]
Photo via Park Slope Stoop
I often drive through the park on my way home during the evening permitted hours (5-7). I keep my speed right at 25 mph and it is a rare occasion indeed when a cyclist is going that fast. The only time they really get up to the 25 mph range is that long downhill which starts near the ball fields and ends down near the lake. And even then, that’s only the wannabe racers who are really trying for max speed – casual cyclists aren’t even getting close.
I’m inclined to agree that speeding by cyclists isn’t much of an issue in the park if you’re going to define speeding by the 25-mph limit. However, cyclists not stopping at red lights to allow pedestrians to cross on the crosswalks is a huge problem. On days when I’m not in the car, I’m cycling to and from the office through the park and have been doing so for a few years. In all that time, I’ve seen exactly one cyclist stop at a red light in the park. It was so remarkable and unusual that it has stuck in my mind until this day!
I admit that as a cyclist I don’t stop for red lights in the park either nor do I necessarily think it makes sense for cyclists to do so, however cyclists need to recognize that the pedestrians, when crossing with the light, have the right of way in the crosswalks and need to either maneuver, slow, or stop as necessary to avoid them and let them proceed. Just a matter of simple courtesy. Courtesy goes both ways of course.
I have mixed feelings about cars in the park. When I drive through the park I recognize that it’s not a car-centric space and drive in a way that respects that. There’s no need to be blasting through the park – there are just too many cyclists, pedestrians, kids, etc, doing potentially unpredictable things. It was a good move a few years ago when they restricted car traffic to one lane and opened the other former car lane for bicycle traffic only. The single lane helps keep the car traffic speed down, eliminates jockeying for position, and increases the amount of space available for cyclists and pedestrians. But of course there are always the pricks who are honking horns in the park or occasionally even jumping into the bike lane to pass other cars(!!). This sort of douchebaggery is what will get cars permanently banned from the park drive. As a driver I’ll be sad about that (I suspect it’s an inevitability) because it’s a beautiful and peaceful space, but as a general park user I recognize it’s probably not a bad idea.
What an absolute waste of taxpayer money. After cars, trucks, buses, subways, gunfire, and falling construction debris, bicycles are about as low down on the totem pole as they come in terms of deaths and injuries. Don’t want to get hit by a bicycle? don’t cross a road (yes the park drive is a road) with your back to traffic, while looking down at your iPhone, or amble aimlessly in the middle of the road (there are plenty of pedestrian-only paths for that) and you’ll be fine.
why does the nypd announce these crackdowns on ANYTHING?
how about consistent enforcement?
This seems like saying something to make it seem like you’re doing something, but you’re really not doing anything. How many people are really biking faster than 25mph? The problem is careless biking.
I believe what Architrance was referring to is to have a speedometer on a Bike so the Biker knows if he is breaking the speed limit! I agree. I think Speedometers may need to be put on Bikes if this becomes a big problem.