The Case for a Carfree Central Park

Cities across the United States are creating more space for walking, running, and hiking by shutting down roads through parks and neighborhoods. If the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives gets its way, 2008 will be the year New York banishes motor vehicles from Central Park and Prospect Park all summer long.

Nowadays, cars are only allowed on the parks' perimeter roads during weekday rush hours and the holiday shopping season. But the group argues speeding autos still threaten the safety and serenity of the intended users: pedestrians, cyclists, and others seeking a break from the city's cacophony.

"These parks are the crown jewels of New York and, right now, car traffic dictates how and when people can use them," says Transportation Alternatives spokesman Wiley Brown.

His group has collected some 100,000 signatures in support of its proposal for a car-free summer; the city's new transportation commissioner says she is thinking it over. Assuming this pilot program is successful, Transportation Alternatives plans to push for banning autos altogether.

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