The city’s idea for a more bike- and pedestrian-friendly Central Park is taking shape as it gets ready to modify its well-traveled roadways. The six miles of roadways that round the famous green area are being redesigned by the Central Park Conservancy, which is in charge of the park’s maintenance, in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Transportation in New York City. According to The New York Times, a report with more than a dozen recommendations is set to start as early as the summer of 2025. The city’s new congestion tolls are one of the factors driving the road design’s goal to better serve walkers and the growing number of bikes.
The proposals cover a variety of projects, such as installing colored and textured roadbeds to clearly identify lanes and repaving with softer, maybe rubberized materials for runners and walkers. An important step is the dismantling of the park’s 50 traffic lights, which were seen to be superfluous because the majority of vehicles were prohibited in 2018. Olmsted wasn’t dealing with pedicabs, according to Elizabeth Smith, president of the Conservancy, who told Crain’s New York that the park’s user base has changed since its initial layout.
The concept includes better space demarcation for cyclists and electric-powered equipment. Smith told The New York Times that a possible “rumble strip” with grooves would help keep bikers from straying into pedestrian lanes. In addition to providing special space for emergency vehicles, the middle lanes should be clearly demarcated for recreational bicycles. These actions are a part of an effort to promote more safety and clarity in the busy Central Park, where millions of residents, who are the park’s main users, go to relax and get exercise.
The redesign of Central Park Drive aims to efficiently handle a wide range of users, including e-bikers, horse-drawn carriages, and runners. Many of the ideas were shaped by public meetings and surveys that were influenced by consumers’ concerns about safety and speed. Vice President for Government Relations, Policy, and Community Affairs David Saltonstall told Crain’s New York that the Conservancy was “surprised” to discover no common approach in comparable parks throughout the world because they encountered the same difficulties. The Conservancy and the city have agreed to work together to complete this challenging project, with the city covering the multi-million dollar initial cost of repaving and remodeling. A thorough study of every crosswalk is definitely in the works before any of this can start.
The report’s suggestions go beyond infrastructure and architecture. To address the concerns of regulation and possible price gouging by pedicab operators, a “Pedicab Reform Working Group” is proposed. Prioritizing community engagement is still very important, and before finalizing plans, Conservancy officials aim to visit community boards to get more input.
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