Cars now fully banned from Brooklyn's Prospect Park

Prospect Park is typically filled with runners and bikers. Starting Tuesday, the park is officially car-free.

The car ban in Brooklyn's backyard is years in the making. The park's West Drive has been closed to traffic since 2015.

Before January 2, 2018, the park's East Drive was open to traffic on weekdays during morning rush hours. But the city said that walkers, runners, and cyclists outnumbered cars more than three to one.

The Department of Transportation started a trial last summer to keep the park closed to cars all day. That only slightly affected traffic on streets near the park during the morning rush hour and that it was manageable, DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said.

The city officially announced in October it would permanently prohibit private cars starting January 2. The DOT said it will continue to monitor traffic and adjust traffic signals if need be.

Mayor Bill de Blasio took to Twitter to applaud the move: "Prospect Park is where my children played and where Chirlane and I were married. Now, even more families can enjoy the beautiful loop of Brooklyn's 500-acre backyard without having to look out for cars."