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I'm 100% in support of less car traffic in NYC but I think there has to be other reliable options in place before that change is made. Many people are using car

I'm 100% in support of less car traffic in NYC but I think there has to be other reliable options in place before that change is made. Many people are using cars and ride-hailing apps as a remedy to the broken public transportation system. If I was working downtown and had a meeting in the middle of the day uptown on the East Side, taking the train would risk missing the meeting. Taking a car meant I had to leave earlier and pay a lot more money, but also meant I could be sure of actually getting there roughly on time. At least in my circles, the preference is public transportation and cars are used for the times when you're waiting 45 minutes or an hour for a train that never comes, watching the arrival timer continually count down to 0 and reset to 12 minutes.

ardit33 9y ago
wait, who does that? If you have to go somewhere, and don't want to take the subway, you usually get a cab. I am assuming normal yellow cabs will not be affected by this charge. I live in Manhattan, and the people that I know that own a car and live here, they fall in the categories: 1. Work outside/far in the burbs, and need the car to go to work. 2. Are rich, and their car is there for the weekends... 3. Have a "commercial license", and can park at places where most normal folks can't. In some areas you can find parking during the day, but in most places where there are businesses (most of downtown, and midtown), it is impossible finding a parking place unless you are paying a lot of money. Much cheaper and less hassle to get a cab
- thanksgiving 9y ago
  I think everyone (I guess other than emergency services?) should pay the congestion charge and the money should never go back to the general treasury and be directly earmarked for subways and buses only.
- maxhallinan 9y ago
  In the parent, I meant cab not car. Yes, I usually would take a cab. But if there are no cabs available, which can happen often near Broadway and Canal Street, for example, then it can be easier to use a ride hailing app.
Eric_WVGG 9y ago
If you're actually serious about getting somewhere on time, take a bicycle. http://toddwschneider.com/posts/taxi-vs-citi-bike-nyc/ http://toddwschneider.com/posts/taxi-vs-citi-bike-nyc/
addicted 9y ago
Taking a car is almost certainly riskier than taking a subway in terms of making that meeting. And it may, unless it’s late night, even take longer.
- maxhallinan 9y ago
  In seven years, that hasn't been my experience. The thing about taking a car is that if you get stuck in traffic, you can get out. You cannot easily exit a train that has stopped running.

ardit33 9y ago

wait, who does that? If you have to go somewhere, and don't want to take the subway, you usually get a cab. I am assuming normal yellow cabs will not be affected by this charge. I live in Manhattan, and the people that I know that own a car and live here, they fall in the categories: 1. Work outside/far in the burbs, and need the car to go to work. 2. Are rich, and their car is there for the weekends... 3. Have a "commercial license", and can park at places where most normal folks can't. In some areas you can find parking during the day, but in most places where there are businesses (most of downtown, and midtown), it is impossible finding a parking place unless you are paying a lot of money. Much cheaper and less hassle to get a cab

thanksgiving 9y ago
I think everyone (I guess other than emergency services?) should pay the congestion charge and the money should never go back to the general treasury and be directly earmarked for subways and buses only.
maxhallinan 9y ago
In the parent, I meant cab not car. Yes, I usually would take a cab. But if there are no cabs available, which can happen often near Broadway and Canal Street, for example, then it can be easier to use a ride hailing app.

Eric_WVGG 9y ago

If you're actually serious about getting somewhere on time, take a bicycle. http://toddwschneider.com/posts/taxi-vs-citi-bike-nyc/ http://toddwschneider.com/posts/taxi-vs-citi-bike-nyc/

addicted 9y ago

Taking a car is almost certainly riskier than taking a subway in terms of making that meeting. And it may, unless it’s late night, even take longer.

maxhallinan 9y ago
In seven years, that hasn't been my experience. The thing about taking a car is that if you get stuck in traffic, you can get out. You cannot easily exit a train that has stopped running.