Central Park Campaign Shifts Into Higher Gear

1998 was a productive year for the newly rejuvenated campaign to ban cars from the nation's most famous urban oasis. During the summer months, park users signed some 7,000 postcards calling on Mayor Giuliani, Parks Commissioner Henry Stern and Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields to ban cars from the six-mile Central Park loop drive. The card-signing effort was featured on a September edition of The Bike Show, a Manhattan Neighborhood Network cable program. Then, when darkness began to fall while taxicabs still hurtled along the park drives, the Car-Free Central Park Campaign members turned to their computers to enter the names of post card signers into a central data base. After this mind-numbing but important task was completed, the Campaign contacted the card recipients-Giuliani, Stern and Fields-to set up appointments to deliver the signed cards.

Ms. Fields quickly responded with an invitation to make a presentation to the Manhattan Borough Board, which is made up of herself and the City Council members who represent Manhattan Districts. At press time, this presentation is scheduled for the Board's January 21 meeting, although it may be delayed until the Board's February conclave. The campaign plans to call for a ban on cars from the drive above 72nd St. as an interim measure, as well as a public hearing on the ultimate objective of an entirely car-free park.

Note: the "Central Park file" was borrowed from T.A. and never returned. This file is critically important as Campaign members prepare for the Borough Board meeting. Whoever has the file, please return it to T.A. ASAP (no questions asked!). For more information on the Campaign, visit our new Web site at www.transalt.org/campaigns/cpark. If you want to help make Central Park a car-free oasis, please call (212) 712-2718.

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