mtf612 OP t1_jaozd73 wrote
Reply to comment by mtf612 in Can Central Park’s Drives Become More Peaceful? - NY Times by mtf612
Fwiw, here are my thoughts on the matter:
As someone who is in the park four or five days a week either as a pedestrian or as a runner on the loop, the biggest issues in my mind are (1) bicyclists who treat the loop like it's the tour de France, (2) pedestrians (particularly tourists) crossing in front of runners/cyclists to get across the loop, (3) cyclists going into the running lane and runners going into the cycling lane, (4) horse carriages and pedicabs parking in the running lane so tourists can stop and take photos.
The problems with speeding and with pedestrians crossing the street are significantly exacerbated on the southern end of the park, particularly during times of the year when tourism is high. So often I'll be running, only to see a group of four casually walking shoulder to shoulder in the running lane. Even worse is having someone, without looking, leave the sidewalk and step out in front of a runner or worse a cyclist.
In my perfect world, where money was no object, they would do the following:
- Install a barrier between the running lanes and the bicycle lanes.
- Widen the running lanes by a couple of feet. Add more clear directional arrows on the ground or signs saying "Keep Right."
- Paint the running lane a different color, like orange. Pedestrians often stand in the running lane at crossings because they treat it like it's just a wide curb to the road.
- Post signs at every pedestrian crossing to inform pedestrians to look both ways.
- Install motion sensors at every pedestrian crossing that alert pedestrians to oncoming cyclists, pedicabs, runners, etc.
- Signs or campaigns to remind pedestrians that the running lane is for exercise and to keep casual leisurely strolls to the sidewalk—especially since the sidewalk is parallel to the loop for 90% of the time.
- Ban horse drawn carriages. Full stop. Invest in and allow electric horseless carriages as a replacement.
- Create specific parking spaces for pedicabs.
- On the south loop, or everything below 77th street, install speed limit signs and speed radar cameras.
- Enforcement. Tickets for speeding cyclists, tickets for cyclists in the running lane, tickets for pedicabs who park randomly—straight to jail for the very limited number of cars that are allowed on the loop if they speed.
The transverse issue is tricky. Ideally there would be a reconfiguration of at least two of the transverses to allow for a fully separated two-way bicycle lane that is protected by a concrete divider. That is probably more of a fantasy than anything else on my wishlist though.
Backpackerer t1_japax2b wrote
I would add to the list of problems:
- delivery guys biking against traffic (mostly in the evenings)
- mopeds (it’s rare but really piss me off)
- runner clubs who take up the whole lane so you have to endanger yourself and move to the bike path
mtf612 OP t1_japgs0t wrote
Agreed fully.
Didn't mention things that are just plain illegal (delivery bikes against traffic are one thing but I've nearly been hit by citibikes in the running lane going the opposite direction of the bike lane).
The running groups particularly bother me as a novice runner who runs along. Makes me feel like a huge outsider or non-runner when a group of 20-30 people are running at me and no one is adjusting to accommodate people going the other direction (me) so I'm forced into the bike lane.
ephedup t1_japi68v wrote
As someone whose logged thousands of miles in the park the delivery bikes riding at high-speeds in the pedestrian lanes and pedicabs blocking the pedestrian lanes remain a constant threat. I’ve gotten good at navigating around tourists, both on foot and bike, but those delivery bikes force you to rapidly change course creating further dangers.
ChaotiCait t1_jar7ftf wrote
They should change the bridle path near 86th where all the cops park their cars into a paved transverse for bikes.
eclectic5228 t1_jap8czg wrote
I mean this very sincerely, and wanted to make sure I understood your comments: are you calling the walking lane the running lane? In your mind the bidirectional lane to the left marked with little people is a running lane?
It's helpful to hear from different perspectives.
mtf612 OP t1_jap9zh3 wrote
I am referring to that lane as a running lane, because it it primarily used by people who are running. However, I fully endorse people using it for walking. Plenty of people cannot run, plenty use that lane for power walking, and plenty use it for leisurely walks but stay to one side alone. That's fine.
What is not fine are groups of people walking across both directions of the lane or people standing in the lane while they wait for cyclists/horse cabs to pass—thereby forcing others to step into the bicycle lanes to continue on their path.
Particularly because there is typically a sidewalk next to the lane.
eclectic5228 t1_japasnn wrote
I see. Thanks
Some proposals I've seen is to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians. I think the idea is to use little pedestrian islands similar to what they have in streets. I assume they'd place it at crosswalks between the bike and pedestrian (aka running) lane.
mtf612 OP t1_japcu0l wrote
Ooh, I like that.
HanzJWermhat t1_jaxln2c wrote
Lmao “the runners lane” and “ban these Tour de France wannabes” tell me you’re entitled without telling me you’re entitled
Historical_Pair3057 t1_japgtm3 wrote
You're hired! Implement everything please!
Comprehensive_Heat25 t1_jaqzdxv wrote
You must have one them fancy office jobs they keep talking about. You done stated the problems you are witnessing AND you provided solutions to your complaints. 🤯 /s (kinda)
Alex3917 t1_jap72ys wrote
Just let people bike as fast as they want before 10am, and ban horses before then.
midtownguy70 t1_japbatl wrote
Before 10am are some of the busiest hours. To hell with all those speed cyclists.
rbf85 t1_jarg9k9 wrote
With Issue (2) are you implying that pedestrians shouldn’t be able to cross the loop at all?
mtf612 OP t1_jarn1i8 wrote
No, and I should have been more clear on that issue list. I didn't expect this post to get much attention and honestly these are just my opinions that I came up with off the top of my head.
What I was trying to get at, is that runners and bicyclists do not stop for traffic lights. I think that's perfectly reasonable at certain parts of the park (north end) where there are few pedestrians crossing. On the south loop, however, there needs to be better mechanisms to control the flow of traffic—both the actual traffic on the loop and the traffic of pedestrians crossing the loop.
The problem I come across often, is that especially during tourist seasons, large groups of pedestrians will stand in the running lanes waiting for the light to change, forcing runners into the cyclist lane. I've seen pedestrians step out in front of runners multiple times, because the pedestrians did not look both ways, and I've seen clueless groups of people walk out into the bicyclist lane in front of traffic, nearly causing damaging accidents with oncoming cyclists.
And this doesn't just happen at the designated crossings. People jump the barriers all the time to get across the park more quickly, but they're now an obstacle that needs to be navigated.
Pedestrian safety certainly requires better control of traffic on the loop, but it also requires that (a subset of certain) pedestrians recognize that the loop is an actively used road with mixed forms of travel.
ketzal7 t1_jat88yg wrote
The Tour de France bikers are so annoying. It’s one reason I generally avoid Central Park since it feels like a highway rather than a park in places.
I’ve had similar experiences in Prospect Park as well.
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments