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silly prospect park noob question — Brooklynian

silly prospect park noob question

possibly_maybe
possibly_maybe
edited November -1 in Park Slope
How, um, late in the evening is it open to the public?

Website says NYC parks are closed to the public between 1-5am, so I assume that includes Prospect Park (duh), but I thought all NYC parks "officially" closed at 9pm.

I usually work late (mostly because I go to sleep and wake up so damn late; hence me posting this at 2:17am), and would lovvveee to take midnight bike rides. Will the police give me any trouble for this?

Thanks, and stuff.
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Comments

  • metalnyc
    metalnyc
    it's not the police i would be worrying about for a midnight bike ride in the park.
  • raw
    raw
    Watch the Brave One, join a 24 hour gym, and don't give nypd extra work.
  • daver
    daver

    Subject: Re: silly prospect park noob question

    possibly_maybe wrote: How, um, late in the evening is it open to the public?

    Website says NYC parks are closed to the public between 1-5am, so I assume that includes Prospect Park (duh), but I thought all NYC parks "officially" closed at 9pm.

    I usually work late (mostly because I go to sleep and wake up so damn late; hence me posting this at 2:17am), and would lovvveee to take midnight bike rides. Will the police give me any trouble for this?

    Thanks, and stuff.
    You are legally allowed to be in Prospect Park until 1am. As noted above, you may experience issues other than legal. There have been, uh , incidents in the park overnight. But then such things happen during the day too, so, oh well, whatever, nevermind.
  • steve
    steve
    possibly_maybe, I mean this in the best sense. When they say you need to have street smarts in the city, they are talking to you! Bad idea.
  • filmlover44
    filmlover44

    Subject: Re: silly prospect park noob question

    possibly_maybe wrote: How, um, late in the evening is it open to the public?

    Website says NYC parks are closed to the public between 1-5am, so I assume that includes Prospect Park (duh), but I thought all NYC parks "officially" closed at 9pm.

    I usually work late (mostly because I go to sleep and wake up so damn late; hence me posting this at 2:17am), and would lovvveee to take midnight bike rides. Will the police give me any trouble for this?

    Thanks, and stuff.
    Hmmm. Midnight rides in Prospect Park. Maybe not such a great idea.
  • bergenites
    bergenites
    The park is open until 1am, but I wouldn't go there alone after dark unless I was attending a concert or other even where lots of people are around. Even then I would probably make someone go with me.

    That is just common sense.
  • joncane
    joncane
    I've ridden in the park past midnight a few times and am always surprised how busy it is. Granted, that's just in the summer months, and I'd imagine it's much quieter when the weather isn't so nice. I've even seen women running alone (with headphones no less) after 11.
  • armchair_warrior
    armchair_warrior
    wouldn't do it, rape, murder, robbery, plain old beating etc...

    i'm always on the side of caution :p.
  • possibly_maybe
    possibly_maybe
    Thanks, all.

    I'm not really too concerned about something happening to me if I went for a late-night ride. Caution is nice at times, but it also tends to get in the way. I've lived in NYC all my life (just new to Park Slope), and while I'm definitely not some brave, tough guy, I do know enough of what to avoid, and have been in and gotten out of enough shitty situations alive in the past (used to do lots of graffiti in my teens, often in places like East New York at 3am).

    Besides, I'm not talking about a casual bike ride through all the dark corners of the park; more of a fitness thing because I'm getting woefully out of shape. Full speed the whole time, staying on the loop, etc. I figure there's got to be a handful of people there at that time.

    And yes, I figure my odds of getting into trouble are probably at least as high as if I was there casually walking around at 3pm when all the kids are getting out of school. I'd be a much faster, darker target at night...so somehow I'm thinking I might be safer. :)

    Anyway, thanks again. I'm going to take a ride there some time this week before midnight, and if I feel like it's not such a great idea, maybe it'll be the last time.
  • daver
    daver
    possibly_maybe wrote: Anyway, thanks again. I'm going to take a ride there some time this week before midnight, and if I feel like it's not such a great idea, maybe it'll be the last time.
    Post back how it goes.

    So we know you are still alive.

    haha.

    Kidding, I'm a kidder.

    :mrgreen:
  • veets
    veets
    Daver may be a kidder but I don't care how fast you bike through the Park at night I would have issues with that even if you are one of those male, in shape people.

    The lesson I have learned from being born and raised and living in Brooklyn all my life (fagettabout those 7 years in NJ in my 20's!!) is I know what reasonable caution is and prayer.

    Realistically.. save the solo bike rides for time when there are other people using the park. Geez I am thinking of a novel I read afew years back by a Brooklyn author and one of the character actually had a "death wish"... novel set in park Slope and he pushed that reasonable precaution so far that he of course was assaulted in the context of the plot line. yeah it lead to character developement.. But who needs that??????!!!!
    Lots of ! and ?
  • raw
    raw
    Bergenites wrote: Even then I would probably make someone go with me.
    Me too -- someone like the Terminator.

    Two people can get beat up or killed by a gang with knives or one person with a gun.

    How about a stationary bike (for at home, not in park after dark)?:
    http://www.spinning.com/

    Wasn't there a news story awhile ago about a cop and his girlfriend getting attacked in or near the park?
  • possibly_maybe
    possibly_maybe
    Ok, ok, I think you guys scared me sufficiently into reconsidering.

    I'm actually surprised that the park remains officially open (not much can be done to realistically reinforce it, really) until 2am if it's considered so unsafe.

    Guess I'll have to stick to the streets for my midnight rides, and choose the park only for rides earlier in the evening.

    Thanks again.
  • filmlover44
    filmlover44
    That's good. I almost rode into the park last night around 10:15 and then thought the better of it when I realized how dark it was and turned around.
  • whatchuwant
    whatchuwant
    But doesn't it suck, though? That we can't take advantage of the park after dark purely for safety issues? I would LOVE to take a nice late night ride in the summer months (the foliage smells so different and incredible once the heat subsides....and listening to the insects!!! LOVE. IT.)

    I've never gotten the guts to do it either, but I always think about it.
  • possibly_maybe
    possibly_maybe
    Agreed, it does suck. Mornings are nice on the rare occasion I find myself awake before 9am, but I love (!!!) nights, and wish something as amazing as the park could be safely enjoyed then.

    Well, I know I'm brand new here and all (though I've been lurking since shortly after moving here last september) but if anyone wanted to organize an occasional midnight ride through the park, I'd be glad to pitch in.

    You know, the whole strength in numbers thing.. ;)
  • whatchuwant
    whatchuwant
    You read my mind!!!!!!! Yes- PM me.
  • 8thandprez
    8thandprez
    Note that *some* sections of PP close at sunset. Namely, the Vale of Cashmere, which is known for ... um ... uh ... activities of a sexual nature.
  • daver
    daver
    8thandPrez wrote: Note that *some* sections of PP close at sunset. Namely, the Vale of Cashmere, which is known for ... um ... uh ... activities of a sexual nature.
    Last time I rode my bike in there I slipped on wet grass and couldn't stop and tumbled down a set of stairs. Which serves me right for riding my bike on the sidewalk.
  • possibly_maybe
    possibly_maybe
    Hmmm, good to know. I guess it's somewhat equivalent to Central Park's 'Ramble', huh? :)

    I'm always amazed at how easily I get lost in Prospect Park. I'd like to think I have a decent sense of direction....but maybe I'm a bit more reliant on Manhattan's grid & CP's rectangular shape (and view of the buildings from almost anywhere inside CP) than I'd like to admit. I just get so hopeless lost wandering around Prospect anywhere off the main road and paths.

    Anyway, Whatchuwant & I traded a couple PMs, and are thinking of planning a little midnight-ish ride through the park some time in the coming few weeks, so look out for a thread on it soon if you're interested...
  • whatchuwant
    whatchuwant
    Prospect Park Midnight-ish Bike Run Thread is on the Prospect Heights board. We've got a good group so far! Date to follow, but planning on a Friday...
  • possibly_maybe
    possibly_maybe
    Oh sweet, thanks for the notice.. duh, I haven't even ventured to the other boards much yet..
  • filmlover44
    filmlover44
    daver wrote: [quote=8thandPrez]Note that *some* sections of PP close at sunset. Namely, the Vale of Cashmere, which is known for ... um ... uh ... activities of a sexual nature.
    Last time I rode my bike in there I slipped on wet grass and couldn't stop and tumbled down a set of stairs. Which serves me right for riding my bike on the sidewalk.

    That doesn't sound very sexual to me.
  • daver
    daver
    filmlover44 wrote: [quote=daver][quote=8thandPrez]Note that *some* sections of PP close at sunset. Namely, the Vale of Cashmere, which is known for ... um ... uh ... activities of a sexual nature.
    Last time I rode my bike in there I slipped on wet grass and couldn't stop and tumbled down a set of stairs. Which serves me right for riding my bike on the sidewalk.

    That doesn't sound very sexual to me.
    ...and I was nekkid.

    :mrgreen:
  • caaahyoko
    caaahyoko
    daver wrote:
    ...and I was nekkid.

    :mrgreen:
    How would you explain those pavement burns? :lol:
  • vidro3
    vidro3
    Okay, i think the safety issues, while real, are getting a little bit over blown on this thread. I have ridden through the park and on the loop at 10-11pm with no problems whatsoever. There are usually a decent number of people about. At 3am? I might have some qualms, but I am really not worried about gangs lying in wait to rush me and knock me off my bike. Even thugs have to sleep sometime, right?

    Maybe you could start a meetup.com group for late night park riders
  • caaahyoko
    caaahyoko
    vidro3 wrote: Okay, i think the safety issues, while real, are getting a little bit over blown on this thread. I have ridden through the park and on the loop at 10-11pm with no problems whatsoever. There are usually a decent number of people about. At 3am? I might have some qualms, but I am really not worried about gangs lying in wait to rush me and knock me off my bike. Even thugs have to sleep sometime, right?

    Maybe you could start a meetup.com group for late night park riders
    Kind of an aside, but I was surprised to hear from my husband that in the 80s he wouldn't even ride on the regular street at night because he would always see people with nice bikes knocked right off them by a group of guys and the bikes stolen. Yikes! Glad that doesn't happen regularly anymore. I love riding at night.
  • vidro3
    vidro3
    Yup, I've heard those stories from my family as well; Brooklyn was a zoo back in the day.

    I still think a meetup.com group is a good idea. Or maybe rightrides.org would be interested in helping to organize something - if someone here has the initiative.

    I don't.
  • whatchuwant
    whatchuwant
    Vidro- please check the Prospect Heights Board and you'll see that we are in the process of organizing a Midnight (-ish) Bike Run. Add you name to the list and join us!
  • superjonbot
    superjonbot
    I'm not so worried about the people in prospect park at 1am, its the squirrels that commit crimes and make it look like people did it.
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