Councilwoman Will Intro Bill to Ban Cars From Central, Prospect Parks...
“A city lawmaker wants to turn Central Park and Prospect Park into no-drive zones. City Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) will introduce a bill today that would restrict vehicles from traveling along the main, 6-mile loop in Central Park and inside Brooklyn’s Prospect Park…The main Prospect Park loop is open to cars from 7 a.m. to…
I say ban all cars! and then let’s ban money. We can become a barter society. It can be like Gilligan’s island! How cool is that?
Just people already where they need to be. No get around, run around. Not too much food, but then who wouldn’t be better off losing a few pounds?
i’ve only been in new york city for 15 years, but i never understood why cars need to be in the parks. its the only green space we have to get away from the madness.
i have always suspected that for central park it was because it is a big shortcut for west side midtown business travelers (ie people who contribute to pols) to get to laguardia. a few phone calls from some alpha billionaires can go far.
i fact, i have always wondered if this is constantly on the table so the pols can make a payday for themselves on a regular basis.
Stargazer — Obviously I agree with you about Prospect Park. However, in Central Park the East Drive, West Drive, Center Drive and 72nd Street Cross Drive are OPEN at various times during the day (rush hours). They’re not talking about the Transverses. Those are appropriately separated from the park and no one is suggesting they close. But having those other roads open during rush hours is silly… and dangerous.
Also, the official website of the park states “The speed limit in Central Park is 25 mph and strictly enforced.” HAHAHAHA! That’s funny! Perhaps if this was actually the case and cars entered and drove around the park in a calm fashion yielding for other vehicles and slowing for pedestrians and baby carriages, it wouldn’t actually be that terrible to have cars in the park. In either park. But this sort of driving simply doesn’t seem possible for the fine denizens of this town. Speedway or gridlock! Nothing in between is permitted.
I agree, prospect park should have no cars allowed. Central park is different because the cars are no where near the pedestrians, but in PP, while riding a bike, I feel like the cars can just run you over.
sorry for the double post! Internet connection is a little sticky this morning….
How awesome would it be though, if it passed? If you’ve ever jogged or biked in Prospect Park in the morning, you know it gets really crowded on the east side of the park during the 7-9am rush hour. There just isn’t enough room on those two little side lanes for all the runners, walkers and bikers. Plus the drivers go way too fast and often stray into the bike lane on the curves. Who should get priority – people using the park for the purposes it was intended for, or people who use it as a mini-Prospect Expressway so they can make it to work 3 mins. faster?
Zinka — Take a look at the NY Post comments. It warms my heart that I share the city with these backward-looking people. Cars are the answer! The city can’t possibly operate with even 1% fewer cars!
I swear, half of these people would be happy to see every other block of buildings demolished so the streets could be widened. And ban buses because they take up parking spots!
How awesome would it be though, if it passed? If you’ve ever jogged or biked in Prospect Park in the morning, you know it gets really crowded on the east side of the park during the 7-9am rush hour. There just isn’t enough room on those two little side lanes for all the runners, walkers and bikers. Plus the drivers go way too fast and often stray into the bike lane on the curves. Who should get priority – people using the park for the purposes it was intended for, or people who use it as a mini-Prospect Expressway so they can make it to work 3 mins. faster?
Don’t hold your breath. This legislation seems to be introduced every year or two, and never passes. It boggles the mind that so many people think an appropriate use of our greatest parks is as rush-hour cut-through highways.