Safety Tips & Etiquette

Prospect Park Track Club strives to create a safe and welcoming experience for our runners and all other pedestrians and park users. See our safety tips and etiquette protocols for running in Prospect Park below.

Safety Tips

If you are looking to stay safe on your next run, follow these easy tips, courtesy of The Run Collective and #RunnerSafetyAwarenessWeek (recap by Alison Kotch)

Contact the D.O.T. to report lights out in the park

If you come across a lamp that is out in the park, don’t call 311 or the Parks Department. Take a picture of the lampost (including its unique ID code). Tweet it to @nyc_dot for the quickest response. If multiple people report the lamp it should get fixed more quickly.

Run with groups
(even if you’re running alone)

There’s safety in numbers, so trailing behind a larger pack of runners (even if you want to run solo that day) means you’ll be near others who can bail you out of a potentially uncomfortable and/or threatening situation.

Consider different headphones

Running without music can be tough, and it’s often the only thing that can push you through those last few miles. If you can’t give it up when you’re outside, consider a pair of headphones, such as Trekz Air by Aftershokz, which sit just outside your ear and allow street noise in.

Let people know your preferred run time

Are you an early-morning runner, afternoon jogger, or someone who prefers to head out after dark? Make sure you have a handful of family or friends who know your schedule. They’ll know if you’re missing, and you might find other runners willing to keep you company.

But don’t let fear keep you indoors, either! Twenty-four percent of a survey of 800 women said they pay to run on treadmills because they don’t feel safe running outdoors. Running outdoors is often more fun, more enjoyable, and a better workout than staying in the gym… so it pays to empower yourself before you head outdoors.

Prospect Park Protocols & Etiquette for Runners

BE SAFE 

• On the Inner Loop (Park Drive): (see map below for reference)

• Follow the Flow – Runners should generally stay on the right-hand side of the pedestrian lane they are using.  In the north and west sides of the Park, the pedestrian lane follows the inner (Park) side of the Inner Loop. On the south and west sides of the Park , there are both inner and outer pedestrian lanes on the Inner Loop. 

• Pass With Caution – When overtaking other pedestrians, pass to their left. An “excuse me” or an “on your left” may be useful, and try to give people enough space (~3 feet) to minimize crowding and the chance of collisions.

• Enter With Caution – When entering or exiting the outer loop, look both ways and avoid oncoming traffic from both directions (pedestrian, bike, or otherwise).

• Be Prepared to Stop or Detour – Keep alert and always be prepared to stop or actively detour around potential hazards, including (but not limited to): 

• People crossing the outer loop at designated crosswalks; 

• Runners with guides or assistive devices; 

• Park users with pets or children who may move unexpectedly; 

• People or vehicles stopped in or otherwise using the pedestrian lanes for unexpected or inappropriate purposes; 

• Visitors unaware of the outer loop protocols; and 

• Any other Park user whose appearance or behavior indicates that they might benefit from additional space and/or caution.

• Elsewhere in the Park (on paths, in green spaces, transverse roads) 

• Respect Mixed Use Areas – Remember that specific Park areas have dedicated or preferred uses (ball fields, grilling areas, etc.) or are true “mixed-use” (walking, lazing, playing fields, etc.), where runners do not have a right of way. 

• Avoid Using Dirt Paths - Impacted dirt paths that have been created by Park users, both on lawn areas and in the woodlands, negatively impact the Park’s natural areas. Such paths (also known as “Desire Lines”), do not allow plants to grow and disrupt the plant cover essential for wildlife habitat and healthy forests. 

• General Alertness - When running, avoid engaging in any activities (loud music/podcasts, conversation, etc.) so loud or engrossing that you cannot hear and respond to environmental cues like shouts, honking horns, bike bells, or dog barks. 

• Organized Events - When there are large events in the Park, including organized races on the outer loop, detour around such activities and marked courses and listen to directives from organizers and course marshals.

• During Dark Hours:

• Try and wear high visibility clothing and/or running lights that will make it easier for other Park users and vehicles to see you.  

• Stick to areas with sufficient night time lighting, such as the Inner Loop or the Perimeter Loop.

• Remember to give other Park users extra space in low visibility conditions for everyone’s safety and comfort. 

BE A PARK AMBASSADOR

• Runners should model good Park usage by example and avoid escalating conflicts or confrontations where it can be avoided.  

• Maintaining your run is never worth making another Park user feel unwelcome or unsafe.

• If you see something, do something (without putting yourself at unnecessary risk). Offering direct aid to people in need, calling for help, or filming inappropriate or dangerous behavior on a cell phone, using any of the contact methods listed in the “If You Need Assistance” section below, can all help other Park users stay safe. 

• Runners in the Park are subject to all laws, rules and regulations governing the Park at all times and should act accordingly, including not littering, not smoking, and avoiding public urination. 

• Spitting and blowing your nose – if you must, please aim for the grass or trees and avoid areas designated for foot traffic (roads, paths, etc.) and other Park users.

• If you use gels or other running fuel, please discard the wrappers in trash cans and not along the Park drive or paths.

• Listen to and follow any directives received from police officers, Park employees, other city representatives, or representatives of authorized events in the Park (races, permitted events, etc.). 

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Group Training

• Group runs and other training activities should take place at times when the Park is less crowded and in less-trafficked areas (transverse roads, etc.). 

• Group training should always take into account other Park user traffic – no more than two abreast generally (single file when passing other groups), always keep a passing lane for alternate flow traffic on the outer loop and pathways, and be respectful of and give appropriate space to other Park users. 

• Be aware that group runs can make other Park users nervous – follow the general running safety principles and try to give everyone extra space. 

Continuing Park Improvements

• The Park is always evolving and host to a number of pilot programs, which currently include the creation of an outer pedestrian lane in certain sections of the southern and eastern inner loop.  

• Paying attention to the evolving conditions and directives is an important part of being safe and a Park ambassador.

• If you have strong opinions about developments or conditions you see in the Park, consider getting involved in organizations that work directly with the City on such matters, like the Prospect Park Alliance (www.prospectpark.org), the non-profit organization that sustains “Brooklyn’s Backyard,” working in partnership with the City of New York. The Prospect Park Alliance was founded in 1987 to help restore the Park and today provides critical staff and resources that keep the Park green and vibrant for the diverse communities that call Brooklyn home.

Participating in Organized Races 

• Follow the rules of the race outlined in the race email or other organizer materials - runners have a collective responsibility to help ensure a safe event for all involved.

• Educate yourself about the course (the start/finish areas, parking, bathroom facilities, race number pick-up, etc.) before the race.

• Obey all posted course limits and do not block any walkways, pedestrian lanes, or access points outside of the course limits. 

• Do not assume that race participation gives you priority over other Park users outside of the posted course.

If You Need Assistance

• Locate one of the many yellow police call boxes located throughout the Park.

• Flag down an official Parks vehicle or Parks Enforcement Patrol vehicle or personnel.

• Call 311 to report vandalism, disruptive activity, or any broken Park infrastructure (lights, water fountains, etc.).

• Dial 911 in an emergency.

REFERENCE MAP