NYC Central Park Drops Speed Limit to Boost Safety
Central Park reduces speed limit from 20 to 15 mph under new Sammy's Law authority
Central Park Cuts Speed Limit to 15 MPH
New York City's cutting the speed limit in Central Park from 20 mph to 15 mph for all users, including cyclists and essential vehicles, transit officials said. The change takes effect in late February 2025 after a mandatory 60-day notification period that's currently underway. The reduction affects one of the nation's most visited urban parks, which draws 42 million visitors annually.
Sammy's Law Enables Speed Reduction
The Department of Transportation received authority to lower the speed limit under Sammy's Law, which Governor Kathy Hochul signed in May 2024. The legislation's named after Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old boy killed by a driver in Brooklyn in November 2023. Sammy's Law grants New York City home rule authority to set speed limits below the state's 25 mph minimum, according to the city. The change represents the first major implementation of this new authority in the city's park system.
Safety Research Supports Lower Speeds
Research shows pedestrian fatality risk drops significantly at lower speeds, with a 10% risk at 20 mph compared to 5% at 15 mph, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The speed limit applies to the 843-acre park's roadways, which became car-free in 2018 with only essential vehicles and cyclists allowed. Officials didn't provide details about how many speed limit signs will be changed or the cost of implementing the new limit. The reduction's part of the city's Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.
Implementation Set for Late February
The 60-day notification period began in mid-December 2024, putting the effective date in late February 2025, transit officials said. The city hasn't detailed specific enforcement mechanisms or penalties for exceeding the new speed limit. Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets and Sammy Cohen Eckstein's mother, said every speed limit reduction's a step toward preventing another family from experiencing devastating loss.
Visitors Should Prepare for Change
The lower speed limit's expected to create a safer environment for the millions who walk, jog, or cycle through Central Park's pathways each year. Danny Harris, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, said this is a meaningful step toward making parks safer for everyone, especially children and families. Riders can check Moovit for real-time updates about Central Park access and nearby transit connections serving the park.
