POLL: Should Cars be Allowed in Prospect Park?

Earlier this week on how the NYPD, prompted by several serious collisions between bikes and pedestrians, is cracking down on cyclists in Prospect Park by issuing almost 200 tickets for breaking the law.

The article prompted fierce debate in the comments section, sometimes pitting pro-cyclists and pro-pedestrians against one another. Yet another solution, , could leave both groups happy—banning cars from the park.

The L Magazine reports that a group organized by Park Slope Neighbors recently tracked the speed of cars in the park with a radar gun. Of the 195 cars they clocked, all but two were exceeding the 25 mph speed limit.

As of now, cars are only allowed in the park for four hours a day, during rush hours. But their presence is felt all of the time, said Park Slope Neighbors founder Eric McClure in a press release:

“Removing cars from the park should really be considered a prerequisite for solving the issue of conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians. The ongoing presence of motor vehicles in the park will continue to sow confusion over the usage of the car lane during car-free hours, and relying on the honor system to keep drivers confined to their one lane... seems like a recipe for danger.”

What do you think?