Congratulations to our always hard-working president and whoever helped make this happen. We all need to be attentive to the pedestrians so this pilot program works and then work to extend it to mid-day and evening hours.

Despite our collective hyperbole about NYPD harrassment, fictitious speed limits, rogue precinct captains, NYPD official obliviousness to real cyclist hazards (e.g., salmoning, blowing lights on the streets, sidewalk riding etc.) and the like, our ever-patient leadership has managed to encourage a reasonable and face-saving compromise. Let's all make it work.

First, thank you for your hard work on this.  You are right, many of us due to our schedules, ride/train during midday or evening car free hours (midday is not crowded with few pedestrians crossing except for on the lower loop). 

Timing the lights to 25 mph doesn't help most riders.  Pros can maintain a 25mph pace, but 99 percent of amateurs cannot.

Funny this is being called a "pilot" program as this was pretty much the policy during car free hours for the past 30 or so years.

Ellen (and whoever else managed to accomplish this) - thank you so much.  My little Tuesday/Thursday morning group will be greatly relieved at this news. And, we promise to behave!

Regards, Linda

Kudos to all whose hard work made this happen. This is really the only logical compromise for the short term. It accomodates most cyclists who bike laps for training or fitness, minimizes cyclist and pedestrian conflict, and has the support of legal precedent- the leash law litigation. Hopefully, if we make this work we can get more liberal hours to accomodate a broader range of schedules.  Also, I would encourage the police to record day and time of accidents requiring police assistance, and I would encourage both the police and cpc to press those who complain about offensive cycling behavior to specify time and day so future enforcement efforts can be more narrowly targeted and supported by empirical data. 

YOU ROCK

It's really important that everyone know about this.  I'm doing a big personal emailing to friends who ride and urge everyone to help get the word out.  I think CRCA members will be aware of this soon but wonder about the tri clubs and hope anyone with contacts with them let them know (perhaps it has already been done).

Now that the Central Park Police Department has expressed an interest in safety in the park; lets hope they patrol with that in mind.  Meaning;  get them on bikes, on foot at dangerous intersections(boathouse, e 72nd w 72nd andColumbus Circle )and address safety of all park users.  How many of the accidents Capt Wishnia cited were caused TO US(bicyclists) and not BY US?

Hopefully, we can also make an impression on those cyclists who are rude and obnoxious in their behavior.(ie. coming within feet of pedestrians and  screaming at people in crosswalks)

Accidents are accidents and will happen.  Perhaps this initiative can reduce the #.

alan e resnick

former president of CRCA, Team Redline, and Central Park Safety Committee member  circa 1994.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!

This is such wonderful news. 
My immediate reaction is to thank the Police Department for reversing its
 decision on this policy, for listening, for hearing, for caring enough to do
 that.  The Parks Department, the DOT,
whoever was involved in giving us a small piece of our world back – thank you.  

And of course, our brother and sister
 cyclists all over the city who rallied around this cause.  Regardless of whether we were
 racers, political activists, slow pokes, poseurs, fast, bicycle commuters, whatever
– if there was a bicycle in our life, we connected all those dots and we united
– we became one – with one voice –  we
 made it be known - we were heard.  And we did  it all while taveling on the high road. 

All those cyclists who did that for us – thank you.    

"If there are complaints about reckless cyclists during these hours, then the program will end. "

All the good efforts of NYCC and whoever else cannot control all cyclists - we can only improve the average level of behaviour and keep complains down. So we have to hope the cops will ticket reckless riders to help reduce complaints further.  In a city of this size, and a park with so many users, there will always be a few problems.

Ellen and all the others who've worked so hard on this:

Well done!

As said, above, it's not a full solution, but it's a great start. As late spring and summer approaches, hopefully we can get this approach after 7 pm  as well (not to mention mid-day, of course).

Great Job!! Thank you!!!

For this to work, everyone who uses Central Park needs to know about the changes... Pedestrians, dog-walkers, joggers, cyclists...

Is some signage going up in the park? Are the local running/biking stores getting fliers or emails or both??

The most difficult people to reach will be pedestrians. Can we put up cones on key pathways with a simple message – or perhaps write in chalk on the roadway? What are the most effective methods?

Possible message for pedestrians:

We all love Central Park and share the roadway.

ALWAYS look before crossing.

Please be aware that lights are flashing yellow M-F, 6-8am.

Possible messages for cyclists:

Cyclists must yield to pedestrians.

When park is closed to cars, cyclists must STAY OUT of jogging/cycling lanes.

The "pilot program" got it almost right.  First, the policy should be for all car free hours.  Second, responsible cyclists cannot control reckless or new cyclists with questionable skills and should not be punished by having the policy rescinded if these cyclists have issues.  The policy shoud be enforce rules for reckless cycling in the park (sudden line changes without looking back, riding the wrong way, buzzing pedestrians, etc.)