No Smoking in New York City Parks

I love recreating outdoors!  I’m an avid runner, I bicycle and hike with my kids, and enjoy city parks with my family throughout the summer months.  But if there is one thing that ruins an experience for me, its passing people that are smoking cigarettes.  After all – here you are outside in the fresh air, and along comes a small noxious cloud.  *cough, cough*!

No Smoking in Central Park

At least I know that when I visit Manhattan, there is no smoking in New York City parks.  Last week, a controversial smoking ban took effect, banning smokers from lighting up in a number of public locations including, Central Park, along the beaches, pedestrian plazas, and even in Times Square.

The law is intended to minimize second-hand smoke exposure and is the latest in Mayor Bloomberg’s war against cigarettes. If you violate the new smoking ban, expect to pay a $50 fine.

Not surprisingly, there are a number of critics of the legislation, ranging from disgruntled smokers to libertarians who believe in a smaller government.  Yet, most people say that they are looking forward to getting outside this summer without having to breathe in others’ cigarette smoke.  Others even believe that the measure will get them to finally quit smoking.

So – where can you still smoke in New York City?  Sidewalks will be OK, permitted you are far enough from the entrance to a building.  You can even smoke outside of parks and around plazas, or on pedestrian routes that wind through the parks (sorry joggers….)

Although cynics state that the law will not be enforced, the matter of collecting $50 as a fine is the least of some people’s worries.  Mostly, New Yorkers will not be shy in pointing to the new “No Smoking” signs throughout parks and beaches and demand that offenders follow the law.

What do you think of the new measure prohibiting smoking in New York City parks?