3 ms·

In NYC a car is definitely more trouble than it's worth for a lot of us. I think the same is probably true in cities with a well functioning train system.

ars 4y ago
The number of car owners in NYC tells me that this isn't true. If even in NYC people still want a car, even with all the trouble, what does that tell you about public transport? And I'm speaking from experience here - I have a ton of friends in NYC who all started without a car "who needs it", and over time every single one bought a car because it's simply too hard without it. NYC is simply too dense, people need space, there's no reason to jam them all in small homes with little space. Although I suppose some people like that.
- wollsmoth 4y ago
  I'm also speaking from experience. Anecdotally I know a couple people with cars and both are kinda deep in Queens. In a pinch I can rent, but 95% of the time the subway works. In some cases a cab/uber is a time saver or helps move something heavy. Parking is expensive, or you're spending a lot of time looking for a spot. Time is money. What exactly is "too hard" without a car in NYC? Check out this sweet map: https://edc.nyc/article/new-yorkers-and-their-cars https://edc.nyc/article/new-yorkers-and-their-cars
- darkarmani 4y ago
  > The number of car owners in NYC tells me that this isn't true. What is the number of car owners compared to all NYC residents? Of course, there will always be car owners and starting with a population in the millions is going to make that number appear large.
- ch4s3 4y ago
  Only 22% of people in Manhattan own a car, and that’s inflated by a weird swath of the Upper East Side. Most car owner in NYC live nowhere near the subway.
  - vel0city 4y ago
    NYC is way more than just Manhattan. What's the ownership rate of all NYC?
    - ch4s3 4y ago
      Higher obviously, but less than 20% in lost zip codes on train lines which is the relevant thing here. Staten Island is like 84% but there’s basically no transit there, and outer Queens is similar. Deep South Brooklyn also has higher car ownership. The Brooklyn neighborhood I live in looks more like Manhattan in terms of car ownership.
- weatherlight 4y ago
  As someone who lives part time in Barcelona and NYC, and who is from NYC, the people who end up "Needing a car" usually live deep in Queens, or Staten Island. For those who are lucky to have a place where there's parking, they use their vehicles to basically escape the city, not to drive around inside the city. (I don't own a car in either city)

ars 4y ago

The number of car owners in NYC tells me that this isn't true. If even in NYC people still want a car, even with all the trouble, what does that tell you about public transport? And I'm speaking from experience here - I have a ton of friends in NYC who all started without a car "who needs it", and over time every single one bought a car because it's simply too hard without it. NYC is simply too dense, people need space, there's no reason to jam them all in small homes with little space. Although I suppose some people like that.

wollsmoth 4y ago
I'm also speaking from experience. Anecdotally I know a couple people with cars and both are kinda deep in Queens. In a pinch I can rent, but 95% of the time the subway works. In some cases a cab/uber is a time saver or helps move something heavy. Parking is expensive, or you're spending a lot of time looking for a spot. Time is money. What exactly is "too hard" without a car in NYC? Check out this sweet map: https://edc.nyc/article/new-yorkers-and-their-cars https://edc.nyc/article/new-yorkers-and-their-cars
darkarmani 4y ago
> The number of car owners in NYC tells me that this isn't true. What is the number of car owners compared to all NYC residents? Of course, there will always be car owners and starting with a population in the millions is going to make that number appear large.
ch4s3 4y ago
Only 22% of people in Manhattan own a car, and that’s inflated by a weird swath of the Upper East Side. Most car owner in NYC live nowhere near the subway.
- vel0city 4y ago
  NYC is way more than just Manhattan. What's the ownership rate of all NYC?
  - ch4s3 4y ago
    Higher obviously, but less than 20% in lost zip codes on train lines which is the relevant thing here. Staten Island is like 84% but there’s basically no transit there, and outer Queens is similar. Deep South Brooklyn also has higher car ownership. The Brooklyn neighborhood I live in looks more like Manhattan in terms of car ownership.
weatherlight 4y ago
As someone who lives part time in Barcelona and NYC, and who is from NYC, the people who end up "Needing a car" usually live deep in Queens, or Staten Island. For those who are lucky to have a place where there's parking, they use their vehicles to basically escape the city, not to drive around inside the city. (I don't own a car in either city)