Car-Free Hours in Central Park, as of September 2008

Determining when cars are allowed and not allowed on the Central Park loop road got a lot more complicated as a result of the city's fractional closing in 2006. The good news is that the new closures result in more car-free road space overall. Still, the Police and Parks Department's failure to close entrances to traffic in a timely manner, coupled with their willingness to open entrances early when traffic is about to be allowed in, means that car-free time can be effectively reduced by an hour or more each day.

On paper, here are the hours when the loop road is open/closed to traffic:

Weekdays, Jan. 1-Thanksgiving:

• West Drive: Open to traffic 8-10 am. Car-free other times.
• East Drive: Open to traffic 3-7 pm (except southeastern corner, which is open to traffic all day). Car-free other times.
• 72nd Street crossing: open to traffic 7-10 am. Car-free other times.

Entire loop closed to traffic 7 pm-8 am

Weekends All Year: Loop is closed to traffic Friday, 7 pm-Monday, 8 am
Holidays All Year: Loop is closed to traffic 7pm prior to holiday until 8am the following day


Speed Limits when Automobiles are allowed in Central Park: Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit on the loop drive is 25 mph.

HOV Lanes: During weekday mornings, 8 am to 10 am, single-passenger vehicles are prohibited from using the West Drive.

If you see violations of these rules, please e-mail
centralpark@transalt.org, giving date, place and time of violation.