A Central Park roadway that has long posed risks for pedestrians and joggers has reportedly become more hazardous — following a redesign intended to enhance safety, according to local residents.
The updated 6-mile path was launched in June, featuring only one two-way lane for pedestrians, while introducing two new one-way lanes designated for slow and fast cyclists — amidst a reduction in walk signals, perplexing new signage, and traffic lights for cyclists that often go unnoticed by riders, critics argue.
“Navigating any street in Central Park resembles a gauntlet; the traffic lights seem irrelevant,” expressed park visitor Lester Gottesman to The Post while strolling along West Drive at the southern edge of the park.
“Every so often, regular bikes or horse-drawn buggies will halt, but e-bikes? Forget about it,” the 73-year-old surgeon remarked.
“E-bikes have no regard for pedestrians: I’ve treated numerous individuals struck by them,” he added.
The previous setup included one walking lane, a dedicated bike lane, and one or two vehicle pathways, depending on the location along the drive.
A representative from the city’s Transportation Department assured The Post, “The redesign of the Central Park Drives is part of an ongoing initiative aimed at reimagining the park loop to serve as a more functional and accessible public area for both New Yorkers and visitors.
“This initiative, informed by a study and public input, focuses on increasing safety by expanding designated pedestrian and cyclist spaces, ensuring clearer differentiation between those areas to minimize conflicts.”
However, a recent visit by The Post observed several near-collisions between pedestrians and speeding cyclists darting between lanes.
Horse carriage operator and union representative Christina Hansen described a chaotic atmosphere akin to a “highway” scene, noting that delivery cyclists speed north from Midtown during lunch and dinner hours.
But City Hall condemned Hansen’s remarks as “shameful” and accused the union of “scapegoating other workers, including their own, to divert attention from documented incidents of major horse-carriage accidents.”
“This reconfiguration of the Central Park Drive will introduce more order to the cherished loop for pedestrians and cyclists, but the [union] prefers to ignore the alarming frequency of dangerous incidents with horse carriages,” a representative from City Hall stated.
Since the redesign in June, there have been 25 reported accidents in the park, according to CrashMapper, including a tragic incident that claimed the life of an e-bike rider who collided with a pedestrian.
In contrast, only 12 accidents were recorded during the same timeframe last year, with no fatalities occurring.
“No one stops at intersections: Even when the walk signal is active, bikes continue to zoom past,” remarked a park visitor identifying himself only as Tom.
“The cyclists act as if they own the park.”
The redesign was initiated following a report from the Central Park Conservancy published last fall, which aimed to “emphasize pedestrian safety while also accommodating cyclists and legal e-mobility vehicles.”
A representative from the conservancy stated, “Everyone should feel secure while walking, jogging, or cycling in the park.
“We have significant concerns regarding the high speeds on the Drives, particularly from e-scooters, e-bikes, and non-electric racing bicycles,” adding that enforcing the drive’s 20-mph speed limit is the responsibility of the NYPD.
However, Hansen, who works in the park, claimed that police presence is sparse across its 843 acres (1.3 square miles), and asserted that the redesign appears intentionally disruptive to force the buggies out.
“The frequency of collisions has escalated; I’ve witnessed many near-misses that were previously rare,” she observed. “Numerous individuals have already suffered injuries. … Emergency vehicles, police cars, and even garbage trucks struggle to navigate through.”
The controversial redesign is not only hazardous but also illegal, according to Janet Schroeder, president of the New York E-Vehicle Safety Alliance.
“What they’re implementing contradicts all [Americans with Disabilities Act] stipulations,” Schroeder argued regarding the removal of pedestrian walk signals in the park, particularly affecting individuals who are visually impaired or blind. “It’s fundamentally ageist and ableist.
“Where should older individuals with disabilities go for walks now?”
A representative from the DOT reiterated that the redesign is an ongoing endeavor and that the agency continually assesses the project, promising to make necessary adjustments.
Nonetheless, Schroeder expressed that in the interim, the issue of speeding is worsening, leaving elderly and disabled park visitors feeling unwelcome in the green space.
“This redesign does nothing to address bikes on pedestrian pathways or resolve the speeding dilemma,” she critiqued. “It has failed to remedy any of the problems previously faced in the park.”
