A study of pedestrian use patterns in Prospect Park, which polled more than 450 park users over nine months, reports that 60 percent of people think the park is "dangerous" when cars are allowed in compared to just 6 percent when driving is not allowed in the park.These and other findings in the report, conducted by the bicycle advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, indicate that car hours chase people out of Prospect Park, a consequence made more significant by the fact that:

• Brooklyn has less parkland per acre than any other borough.
• Brooklyn's residents and visitors are being kept unnecessarily from exercise that could help combat the diabetes and obesity epidemics that are ravaging local communities.
• As of July 1, 2006, some Parks and Recreation centers will be charging a fee, limiting access to spaces for exercise.

Traffic studies show that Prospect Park's loop road could be car-free on summer evenings with a negligible impact on vehicle flow in the surrounding neighborhoods.Before 2002, Prospect Park had "car-free hours" during the summer only. Since that time, cars are allowed in Prospect Park only between 7 and 9 a.m., and 5 and 7 p.m. on weekdays, and not at all on weekends, all-year round.Graham Beck of Transportation Alternatives says that the road through Prospect Park was designed as a carriage road, with twists and turns, and that bicycles and skaters are only consigned to one narrow part of the road. As a consequence, he said, cars often swerve in and out of the bicycle path, creating dangerous conditions.In contrast, he said, the roads through Manhattan's Central Park are straight, were designed as through-fares, and are below grade level, so they don't interfere with people using the park.City Councilmembers David Yassky and Bill de Blasio have spoken out in support of a three-month trial closure of the Prospect Park loop road, and Councilmembers James and Gonzalez are in favor of a summer evening closure.On the subject of making the road car-free, Prospect Park defers to the city Department of Transportation (DOT), which operates and maintains all streets. A DOT spokesman did not get back to the Eagle before press time yesterday.