Auto-Free Central Park Chronology

The Auto-Free Central Park campaign is aimed at getting can off of the Park's loop drives (not the submerged transverses). The chronology below reveals the steady, though erratic progress that the Auto-Free Parks movement has made.

1899 Cars first allowed on Park drives (See article P. 10)

1955, 1960 Park is without cars for a few days of national bicycle races, including the Olympic trials.

1966 Weekends car-free 6am to 6pm, Memorial Day to labor Day.

1967 Weekend and Holiday hours expanded to year round in Central, Prospect and Forest Parks.
"Tuesday night cycling" experiment launched. No cars from 7pm. to 11pm, lasts from May 23d to Oct 31. Ended because of cold.

1968 Along with weekends and Holidays, Loop Drives are car-free on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 7prn to 10:30pm, Memorial Day to labor Day.

1969 Car-free hours: Saturdays, sunrise to 7pm. Sundays and holidays sunrise to 10:30pm. Weekdays unchanged.

1972 One-time experimental "Parks Week" May 22-26, Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm the first weekday carfree hours.

1975 Weekday no-car hours instituted, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4pm, June 2 to Labor Day.

1978 Car-free schedule extended: weeknights, Monday to Thursday, 7pm to 11pm. Weekdays 10am to 4pm, car-free "summer season" extended to May 1 to October 22. (The NYC Marathon.)

1979 Blue Ribbon Panel's plan accepted. Weekends are car-free from 7pm. Friday to 6am Monday. Weekday car-free hours reduced to 10am to 3pm. and 7pm. to 10am. Bike/pedestrian lane added to loop.

1981 Cars allowed to intrude on lower loop, 6th Ave to 72nd St. during weekday car-free period.

1992 W.110th St W106 St and 5th Ave. entrances closed to cars.

1994 "Summer hours" extended to 10 months of the year; January 1 to first week November (marathon).

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