Public Voices for the New York City Carriage Horses

Traffic Ban in Parks (June 24, 2015: New York Times)

To the Editor:

Re “Weekday Car Traffic to Be Banned in Parts of Central and Prospect Parks” (news article, June 19):

Mayor Bill de Blasio has made an important, welcome step in closing the Central Park Drive to auto traffic above 72nd Street, continuing the effort that this writer and the fledgling Transportation Alternatives started in 1966.

Joined by several elected representatives, including Edward I. Koch, then a district leader, in a horse and carriage and electric golf cart, a hundred cyclists barred entering cars in a mass demonstration to close the drives on Sundays. With the help of Mayor John V. Lindsay and Parks Commissioner Thomas P. F. Hoving, we succeeded.

Over the years, succeeding mayors, including Mayor Koch, extended the days. Now Mayor de Blasio intends to close the northern portion completely.

Next, he and Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver should extend the closing to the entire drive, including the entrances at 59th Street. The safety and pleasure of the park for pedestrians, cyclists and riders in the horse-drawn carriages will be immensely improved when the job is completed.

BARRY BENEPE
New York