Latest on Increased Police Enforcement in Central Park

Two recent opportunities gave us some clarification on increased police enforcement in Central Park.

One was a recent drive of Central Park I took with Park Precinct Captain Jessica Corey. The other was last week’s Central Park Community Council meeting attended with Carol Waaser.

Here is what we know about present enforcement in the park:  

• Last year’s ‘agreement’ notwithstanding, the police cannot and will not state that running a red light is okay. However, Captain Corey underlined that her officers are not out there to ticket cyclists for no reason. If you train in the park in the wee hours of 6:00am-8:00am, proceed, but be vigilant about stopping or generously yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk.  

• Failure to stop and yield to pedestrians at red lights is the focus of the Captain and therefore of her officers writing summonses.  

• 72^nd Street, at both the east and west drive intersections is of particular concern to the police due to the chaotic flow of all traffic. They mean to enforce full red light stops at those hot points…. so be forewarned.  

• In the short hour we drove park laps together, the Captain proved to be an equal opportunity enforcer by reprimanding a wrong-way teenager on a mountain bike, a taxi unlawfully picking up passengers on the east drive, several pedicabs stopped illegally to admire the view and a cyclist (in Lycra) who had buzzed some crossing pedestrians at a red light near the boathouse.  

• The Captain understands that our Club represents a small portion of park cyclists but that our members can with safe, respectful riding, help affect the behavior of all cyclists. It is all about goodwill now.  

Ellen

NYCC President