Central Park
Streetsblog Basics
Central Park Goes Car-Free Forever on June 27
The campaign for a car-free park has lasted more than half a century and involved thousands of people. Today's historic announcement by Mayor de Blasio belongs to all of them.
April 20, 2018
Saturday: Ride for Car-Free Central Park
A car-free Central Park is a popular cause, and advocates have made a lot of progress, but the job's not done yet. Below 72nd Street, car traffic still roars on the West Drive and Terrace Drive on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Center/East Drive between 6th Avenue and Park South and East 72nd Street is a motor vehicle shortcut on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
January 5, 2018
Manhattan CB 7 Wants Protected Bike Lanes for Columbus Circle
Manhattan Community Board 7 wants DOT to make it safer to walk and bike through Columbus Circle. In May, the board's transportation committee passed a resolution calling for protected bike lanes in the large traffic circle at the southwest corner of Central Park. The full board approved the resolution last night.
June 7, 2017
CB 7 Committee to DOT: Make Columbus Circle Safe for Biking
The Manhattan Community Board 7 transportation committee has passed a resolution calling on DOT to make Columbus Circle safe for biking and walking. The traffic circle at the southwest corner of Central Park is a critical point for people biking between the Upper West Side and Midtown, but it's a major void in the bike network.
May 10, 2017
De Blasio Gets More Cars Out of Central Park and Prospect Park
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 making either completely car-free.
June 18, 2015
Car-Free Parks: The Anticipation Builds
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.
May 22, 2015
Will City Hall and DOT Finally Commit to Car-Free Parks This Summer?
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?
April 21, 2015
Eyes on the Street: The Part of Central Park That’s Only for Cars
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 and car commuters during certain hours.
December 1, 2014
If Central Park Was Car-Free, New Safety Measures Could Be in Place 24/7
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.
November 18, 2014