NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Parkgoers are demanding more be done to protect people in Central Park from e-bike riders amid a redesign they say has made the park even less safe than when cars were allowed.
Janet Schroeder, head of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, said stop lights have been changed to only blink yellow and walk signs have been disabled, forcing pedestrians to trust cyclists will yield to them.
"It is madness what they have done with this redesign,” she said. “They've spent millions of dollars to make our park even less safe than it was before.”
Her group is supporting a City Council bill banning e-mobility devices from all city parks.
“We are also calling for this redesign to be completely halted,” Schroeder said.
Janine Panchok-Berry, was injured by an e-biker two years ago while cycling.
“Now you have e-bikes going 30 mph, even faster than that, speeding around the runners,” Panchok-Berry said. “Now you don't even have lights on the loop.”
In response, the Central Park Conservancy called the redesign a work in progress and has asked for the city’s help with enforcement.
Cars were banned on the park’s scenic drives in 2018.