This is, by definition, not a tax: if you don't want to pay a congestion toll for entering Manhattan's CBD by car, then don't enter the CBD by car. In a car de

This is, by definition, not a tax: if you don't want to pay a congestion toll for entering Manhattan's CBD by car, then don't enter the CBD by car. In a car dependent city, this could be fairly argued to be a regressive or punitive toll, but NYC (and especially Manhattan) is not car dependent. (And note: the "free" status quo exists only because the cost is hidden from you, i.e. the potential car driver into the CBD: you don't pay for the air and noise pollution, emergency service delays, deferred maintenance on mass transit, etc. that residents do. Factor those in, and free transit through one of the densest and most expensive cities in the world is a pretty gross subsidy.