I don't know what the answer is either. I gave up doing laps in CP a few years ago because it's just too dangerous with the oblivious pedestrians walking down the middle of the road even early in the morning (when I used to do laps) or off leash dogs running into the road. Now, I stick to the top of the park to do hill repeats. Only two traffic lights there! I go through the park to get out of the city and when I come back. I use my cycling time there to practice my slow speed cycling and bike handling around obstacles in the road (pedestrians and daydreamers).

It's only going to get worse as the weather warms up and more cyclists of all types use the park.

What really bugs me is the selective enforcement. I guarantee that the NYPD is not going to ticket the tourists on rental bikes with helmets dangling from the handlebars when they go through red lights, or pedestrians jay walking all over the park. Or runners going through the red lights. No one uses the crosswalks. Sigh.