New York City DOT Proposes Wider Bicycle, Jogging Lanes Along Central Park Loop
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The New York City Department of Transportation has announced plans to better accommodate bicycles, walkers and joggers along the Loop in Central Park.
The proposed lane shifts come after a blind jogger was seriously injured after he was hit by biker in the Park in August.
1010 WINS' John Montone reports from Central Park
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In response to that incident, the DOT has proposed widening the bicycle and walking lanes along the Loop in Central Park for those on foot and on two wheels.
Under the plan, the walking lanes will double in size from seven feet wide to 14 feet wide. The bike lanes would widen from seven to 11 feet.
EXTRA: Read The NYC DOT Proposal
The bicycle lane would be organized by rider speed, according to the DOT.
Bicycle riders and joggers had opposing feelings over who was more at fault for sometimes dangerous conditions.
"People, you've got to watch where you're going. You'll get run over over here," a man who often walks through the Park told 1010 WINS' John Montone. "You got to keep you head up here on a swivel, oh yeah."
But a bike rider said joggers are equally at fault.
"Well, a lot of them will run the wrong way or they'll run in the middle of the bike lane or they'll do the same kinds of things that cyclists do, just in their own way," a biker told Montone.
To accommodate the wider bike and pedestrian paths, one car lane will be eliminated.
The DOT said under this proposal, there would be an added safety benefit for pedestrians crossing the Loop because there would be a much shorter crossing distance.
The changes would also eliminate what the city DOT called a confusing lane shift during car-free hours.
New signs will also be posted to make it clear which is the bike lane and which is the pedestrian lane, to prevent future accidents.
The New York City DOT said this lane-widening project is similar to a recently completed project at Brooklyn's Prospect Park. That project met the outlined traffic goals, according to the DOT.
What do you think of the proposal to widen the pedestrian and bike lines, while eliminating a driving lane? Share your comments below...
