Press Release
NEW YORK, NY (Thursday, September 25, 2025) — Ever since private cars were banned from Central Park in 2019, it has been clear to the Central Park Conservancy that a redesign of the Park’s Drives was the sensible next step—to help close the book on cars in the Park, and to make the Drives safer and more enjoyable for today’s users. That process began in 2023 when, in partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and NYC Parks, the Central Park Conservancy undertook a study of the Drives, beginning with a survey that ultimately drew responses from more than 10,000 regular Park users.
Informed by those survey results, NYC DOT began repaving and re-striping the Drives in the Spring of 2025. It remains a work in progress, and the Conservancy remains in close collaboration with NYC DOT—the agency with ultimate authority over what happens on the Drives—as visitors adapt to the new “rules of the road.”
Everyone should feel safe walking, jogging, or riding in the park. We share profound concerns related to high speeds on the Drives—especially by e-scooters, e-bikes and non-electric racing bikes. We know the key to drive compliance with the Park’s speed limit is effective enforcement, and that is why we continue to closely collaborate with NYPD, Parks, and the city’s Department of Transportation.
In the meantime, I hope you will take a moment to read through these Frequently Asked Questions about the Drives, and to learn about the steps we are taking to make them as safe and intuitive as possible. Thanks for your interest, and your patience, as we continue to work through this transition.