Dear [Public Official],
We ask your support for rescinding the recently-announced 15 mph speed limit for bicyclists in Central Park Drive.
In December, former Mayor Adams, the New York City Department of Transportation, and Central Park Conservancy announced that the speed limit for cyclists riding in Central Park would be reduced from 20 mph to 15 mph, citing authority granted to NYC by Sammy’s Law.
While safety for all park users is a shared priority, the net impact of this change will be to disenfranchise cyclists who’ve trained on the Drive for more than a century. Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kristen Faulkner is one of many world-class athletes who’ve begun their careers training in Central Park.
We believe reliance on Sammy’s Law is misplaced as the statute explicitly focuses on reducing harms caused by motorists. And its applicability to a roadway closed to private motor vehicle traffic since 2018 is questionable.
Cycling organizations who already prioritize pedestrian safety were not consulted prior to announcement. These groups self-limit group training to times when the Drive is least crowded—a practice which aligns with Frederick Law Olmsted’s foundational tenet of “preventing competition between classes of park users.”
Notably, the DOT’s Central Park Drive Safety and Circulation Study does not include bicyclist speed reduction as a recommended safety measure. Nor has DOT presented data to support the premise that lowering cyclists’ speed will enhance park user safety.
The NYPD already has viable enforcement tools in NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law provisions governing pedestrian right-of-way and unreasonable or imprudent speed. These are far better suited to addressing unsafe behavior on a shared-use path than a blanket speed limit.
Recreational cycling is well documented as a cost-effective public health intervention, delivering substantial cardiovascular and mental health benefits. Cycling in Central Park provides these while avoiding the risks associated with riding in city traffic.
Finally, New York City houses some 800,000 active adult cyclists, but few recreational cycling facilities not shared with pedestrians and runners. Reducing the Central Park speed limit not only disenfranchises local cyclists, it sets a precedent that could be applied to recreational bikeways throughout the city.
Organizations in Support:
Complete George on behalf of NYS Safe Streets Coalition
New York Cycle Club (3K members, including 1K who live near Central Park)
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Complete George 