A Guide to the Central Park Drives
Navigating the Drives Safely and Smoothly
With a record 42 million visits each year, the Central Park Drives have become a car-free corridor for active recreation, exercise, and community. Today, this six-mile loop offers safe, continuous routes that invite running, walking, skating, cycling, and rolling through the Park’s scenic landscapes.
The Central Park Conservancy has created this guide to help you navigate the Drives with ease, courtesy, and care.
Informed by the Central Park Drives Safety and Circulation Study and community input, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) began repaving and re-striping the Drives in spring 2025. While NYC DOT oversees design and reconstruction, and the New York Police Department (NYPD) together with NYC Parks enforce compliance, the Conservancy is here to support your experience—helping ensure the Drives remain welcoming, intuitive, and safe for all.
HOW TO USE THE DRIVES
Explore the slides for your guide on the Drives.
LEARN YOUR LANE
Master the rules, read the signs and icons, and ride with confidence.
STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS AT CROSSWALK
All cyclists and other users must stop and wait for the pedestrian to cross.
TWO-WAY PEDESTRIAN LANE
Pedestrians and joggers: stay in your lane and move in the direction of travel.
Slow Lane for Bikes
Pass with care and stop for pedestrians.
Faster Lane for Faster Wheels
Faster moving bicycles, e-bikes, and authorized vehicles should follow traffic signals. The sharrow, or double arrow, indicates that this is a shared lane.
STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS AT CROSSWALK
All cyclists and other users must stop and wait for the pedestrian to cross.
TWO-WAY PEDESTRIAN LANE
Pedestrians and joggers: stay in your lane and move in the direction of travel.
Slow Lane for Bikes
Pass with care and stop for pedestrians.
Faster Lane for Faster Wheels
Faster moving bicycles, e-bikes, and authorized vehicles should follow traffic signals. The sharrow, or double arrow, indicates that this is a shared lane.
A 5-STEP GUIDE TO THE DRIVES
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1
STAY IN YOUR LANE
Use the lane that matches your speed and how you’re traveling—and always follow the flow of traffic. The left lane (inner) is for pedestrians and joggers. The middle lane is for slower-moving cyclists. The right lane (outer) is for faster-moving wheels.
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STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS
Pedestrians always have the right-of-way at crosswalks. Bikers and other wheeled users are required to stop whenever a pedestrian is in the crosswalk or ready to cross.
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3
ONE WAY, ALL WHEELS
Bikes, scooters, e-bikes, and skates must follow the one-way direction—no exceptions.
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CONTROL YOUR SPEED
Bikes, e-bikes, and other electric vehicles must obey traffic signals and slow down at curves, hills, and crossings. The speed limit for all e-bikes and e-scooters is 15 mph.
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SHARE WITH CARE
The Drives are for everyone—be predictable, courteous, and aware. Actions such as looking before merging and switching lanes can make a difference.
DESIGNING THE DRIVES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
As NYC DOT continues upgrades across the Park, the Drives—and this guide—will evolve with community feedback and collaboration with our City partners. Together, we’re building a safer, more inclusive space that reflects the needs of today’s diverse Park community.
The Central Park Drives are evolving to better serve the millions of visitors who use them every year. NYC DOT has implemented the following design upgrades to create a smoother, more intuitive, and more enjoyable experience for all who use the Drives.
- Repaved the Drives to create smoother, safer surfaces and prepare for new lane markings, updated traffic signals, and improved crosswalks
- Delineated pedestrian lanes and created more distance from high-speed users
- Added consistent markings and re-striping for safer, more intuitive navigation
- Currently modifying traffic signals with bicycle-specific lights to improve compliance and reduce conflicts
Want to share feedback or concerns?
The Conservancy welcomes your input and will share it with our City partners as the Drives continue to evolve. Your feedback helps shape future improvements so the Drives work better for everyone.
Let the Central Park Conservancy know your thoughts here: [email protected].
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do each of the lanes on the Drives mean? What do the symbols represent?
The new lane markings and symbols are designed to keep everyone safe and make the Drives easier to use for everyone.
- Left lane (inner): For pedestrians and joggers
- Middle lane: slower-moving cyclists
- Right lane (outer): Faster-moving permitted users, including faster cyclists, e-bike riders, and essential Park vehicles
- The double arrow symbol in this lane is called a sharrow—it marks a shared lane used by both cyclists and other users on wheels.
“LOOK” markings are designed to increase awareness around the Drives, and are intended to create a more predictable environment at crossings.
Who has the right-of-way on the Drives?
Pedestrians always have the right-of-way at crosswalks, and bikers and all other users on the Drives are expected to stop until the pedestrian is safely across.
Why are there blinking yellow lights? Are they safe?
In the past, timed signals were used when cars still drove through the Park. Now, NYC DOT updated the lights to blinking yellow lights to signal to cyclists and other wheeled users that they are approaching a pedestrian crosswalk. This is to encourage a smoother, more cautious flow of traffic.
What to do:
- Slow down when approaching
- If you are on wheels, stop if pedestrians are in the crosswalk
- If the crosswalk is clear, continue through at a reduced speed
- If you are a pedestrian, we recommend making eye contact or waving to alert approaching cyclists before crossing for added safety
Following the blinking light reduces unnecessary stopping, helps prevent confusion at intersections, and keeps the focus on pedestrian safety.
Who is responsible for all this work? Who is responsible for enforcement?
All changes on the Drives—like striping, lighting, and signage—are being led by NYC DOT, which has jurisdiction over the Park’s roadways. These changes made by the NYC DOT are informed by the Central Park Drives Safety and Circulation Study developed by the Conservancy in partnership with NYC DOT and NYC Parks.
To promote safety and compliance, we collaborate with the NYPD and our own Park Rangers, and lead public education efforts to encourage safer riding and greater awareness of speed and access rules.
Safety in Central Park is a shared responsibility. From e-bike speeds to off-leash dogs, from pedicab behavior to lane use, many factors play a role. By working together, we can keep the Park safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone.
Are there plans to add new signage, markings, or advisories on the Drives in the north end of the Park?
Yes. As part of the ongoing redesign, the NYC DOT plans to repave and add new striping to the northern sections of the Drives. This work is still in the early stages, and public feedback plays an important role.
THE STUDY BEHIND THE UPDATES
Explore more on the Central Park Drives Safety and Circulation Study for insights into the community-driven process led by the Conservancy and the City’s role through NYC DOT in determining future implementation.