NEW YORK—The congested traffic in Central Park, including walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and cars, has prompted a shift in traffic lanes.
Overall, pedestrians will get more room and bicyclists and cars will get less in new plans from the city’s Department of Transportation.
The plans vary by location within the park, according to a draft presentation. In the upper loop (north of 72nd Street), walkers and joggers would get double the amount of room (a 7-foot lane would double in size), while bicyclists would get less (losing a 7-foot bike lane and keeping an 11-foot lane). The 12-foot service vehicle lane could be used temporarily by passing cyclists.
In the lower loop, an 8-foot bicycle lane would become a pedestrian lane. This change would be in addition to the path already assigned to pedestrians that’s separated by a wooden barrier.
On East Drive, bicyclists would move toward the center of the road into a 9-foot lane, and the two current 11-foot lanes for cars would become one slightly larger lane (13 feet). On West Drive, bicyclists would move toward the center into an 11-foot lane and three car lanes would become two.
Similar changes at Prospect Park earlier this year have been successful, according to Department of Transportation officials. A downgrade in the level of service for cars is expected. Cars are only allowed in many parts of the park for several hours each weekday anyway.
One exception is Center Drive/East Drive, which runs from the Sixth Avenue entrance on Central Park South to the East 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue exit, where vehicles are allowed weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
No cars are allowed in Central Park during the weekends.
The Central Park Conservancy, which operates the park, supports the plan. Doug Blonsky, president and CEO, said in a statement that the changes would help the park’s 40 million annual visitors “enjoy the park to its fullest, addressing issues of congestion and safety.”
Stakeholders such as local elected officials and community boards have been told of the changes and the Department of Transportation “will conduct further outreach to all stakeholders involved before starting to implement the plan next month.”
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