Safety First: Avoiding Trouble on the Run in Central Park
by Jeff Venables
With 58 miles of pedestrian paths, 6 miles of vehicle drives, and
nearly 5 miles of bridle paths, the 843 acres of Central Park offer
countless opportunities to urban runners. Still, the city doesn't
end at the park's borders and thieves are looking for opportunities
in the park as well. It's important to use your street-smarts when
you're running around the reservoir, beside the Sheep Meadow, or
up the Great Hill. Here's what you need to know.
Help is Nearby
The New York Police Department's Central Park Precinct is in charge of the park. Their Robbery Reduction Unit places officers at crime-prone locations. Parks & Recreation maintains the park and dispatches Park Enforcement Patrols (PEP) to look for crime. The NYRR Safety Patrol for Central Park occupies a kiosk at Engineers' Gate on the East Drive at 90th Street. Under the guidance of NYRR's Steve Boland, the Safety Patrol operates weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The kiosk is occupied mornings from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m., and evenings from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. On weekends, there is someone stationed there from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Safe Steps You Can Take
You can make yourself less attractive to thieves in two ways: staying in lighted areas and leaving iPods, Walkmans, and other portable electronics at home.They may be leafy and green, but park streets and paths are no different than alleys and sidewalks. If they're dark, stay away.
Darkness is one of the fundamental components that can and should change your running strategy. If your schedule permits you to run only after dark, sign up for an NYRR Running Class, join an NYRR Group Run, or find a running partner. These are easy steps you can take to reduce your chances of falling victim to a crime in the park.
Thieves have already targeted a Central Park runner for his iPod this spring and these expensive mp3 players may also be responsible for an uptick in subway crime. Police urge you leave your portable electronics at home. Conceal your cell phone if you need to carry one.
Also keep in mind the following:
• Be flexible. If you get stuck at work, alter your plans
to avoid running alone after dark. You could go to a health club,
or run the next morning instead. While running, be willing to alter
your route if you feel unsafe, and don't get so caught up in the
rigors of training that you use poor judgment or neglect to notice
your surroundings.
• Think "what ifs" as you run. "Ask yourself,
'How would I get out of the park right now, if I had to?'"
Boland recommends. "'What if the lights went out?'"
• Program the Central Park Precinct number, 212.570.4820,
into your cell phone when you carry it with you.
• Know the location of call boxes. There are over 40 call
boxes throughout the park, and all dial directly to the Central
Park Precinct. Keep in mind, though, that it takes about 30 seconds
to connect to a person. "It's not an instantaneous process,"
says Boland. When calling, remain calm, state where you are and
what is happening.
• Stick to populated areas. You're far less likely to become
a crime victim when other people are in the area. For this reason,
summer is a safer time than winter to run in the park during the
evening. In addition to increased daylight hours, outdoor events
keep Central Park well populated.
• Never respond to verbal harassment. Any acknowledgment can
be taken as an invitation to escalate confrontation.
• Report incidents. For a person to be charged with a crime,
a victim must file a complaint. Call the police or go to the Precinct
office on Transverse Road at 86th Street or to the NYRR kiosk at
90th Street where an NYRR staff member will assist you. These steps
might help prevent someone else avoid a similar encounter.
Avoiding Accidents
"You are much more likely to be injured as the result of an accident than of a crime," says Boland. Follows these tips to minimize chances of a collision or other adverse event:• Don't wear headphones or earbuds. You?ll not only make yourself less attractive to thieves, but you'll be more aware of the noises around you, such as approaching cars and bicycles. Headphones and earbuds are prohibited at NYRR races.
• Run against traffic, so cars can see you and you can see them. (Runners should always use the innermost recreation lane.) Better yet, run when the Park Drives are closed to traffic: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Try to make eye contact with drivers before entering intersections.
• Use a light or wear reflective clothing at night even in lighted areas.
• Use the park's bridle paths and trails during the day?they're off limits to cars and bicycles. Bring a friend if you venture into isolated areas.
• Carry ID or write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside sole of your running shoe. PEP officers can help you contact the Central Park Medical Unit, a volunteer ambulance service that responds to calls only within the park.
• Always carry a MetroCard or cab fare. You never know when you might injure yourself or feel ill and be unable to complete your run.
• Make sure you have access to water on runs lasting longer than an hour. Know the location of the park's water fountains, bring your own, or carry money to buy water. Even mild dehydration increases your susceptibility to fatigue on the run.
Follow this advice, use common sense, and remain sensitive to your
environment, and the odds are overwhelming that your Central Park
runs will be filled with only fun and fitness.
Jeff Venables is the editor of Running & FitNews, the monthly
publication of the American Running Association. This article is
adapted with permission from New York Runner, Summer 2003, Volume
52, No. 3.
10 Tips for Central Park Safety
1. Run with others, especially after dark.
2. Leave your headphones and earbuds at home.
3. Never acknowledge verbal harassment.
4. Trust your instincts. If you feel threatened, change course.
5. Avoid unpopulated areas.
6. Use your cell phone or NYPD call boxes to report incidents.
7. Run against traffic.
8. Wear reflective clothing at night.
9. Carry ID and a MetroCard or cab fare.
10. Have access to water on longer runs.
