Comments on: New York City’s Opinion-Makers Turn Attention to Traffic http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: podsednik http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3993 podsednik Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:45:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3993 I think the entire city should be meters, and the rate should be $15 an hour, similar to garages. But I was talking about what the city does -- not what I would like. If there are businesses there that feel like they are not getting the turnover they need from the parking spaces, they should appeal to the city to add them. But as far as I can tell, that's about the only reason that's permissible. I think the entire city should be meters, and the rate should be $15 an hour, similar to garages.

But I was talking about what the city does — not what I would like.

If there are businesses there that feel like they are not getting the turnover they need from the parking spaces, they should appeal to the city to add them. But as far as I can tell, that’s about the only reason that’s permissible.

]]> By: Adam http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3952 Adam Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:38:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3952 podsednik - Glenn is right. Park Ave isn't a cacophany of businesses like 2nd Ave, but it has plenty of commercial activity. I had an ENT specialist who moved his offices there, and I see enough other businesses there. podsednik – Glenn is right. Park Ave isn’t a cacophany of businesses like 2nd Ave, but it has plenty of commercial activity. I had an ENT specialist who moved his offices there, and I see enough other businesses there.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3942 Glenn Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:41:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3942 podsednik - It's a little more mixed use than it appears. The ground floor of many buildings have doctor, dentist, psychiatrist, physical therapy offices which seem like pretty commercial enterprises to me. There are even a couple of dry cleaners and at least one pharmacy that might be legacy. In any case, everytime I pass Park Ave on my way to the park, I see disabled and elderly folks being off/on loaded from cars or vans to go to the MD offices. It would be much better if they had meters or dedicated handicapped parking in front of these buildings to allow easier access or at least better loading and unloading zones. podsednik – It’s a little more mixed use than it appears. The ground floor of many buildings have doctor, dentist, psychiatrist, physical therapy offices which seem like pretty commercial enterprises to me. There are even a couple of dry cleaners and at least one pharmacy that might be legacy. In any case, everytime I pass Park Ave on my way to the park, I see disabled and elderly folks being off/on loaded from cars or vans to go to the MD offices.

It would be much better if they had meters or dedicated handicapped parking in front of these buildings to allow easier access or at least better loading and unloading zones.

]]> By: podsednik http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3878 podsednik Thu, 14 Sep 2006 02:02:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3878 Glenn-- Meters (almost?) always go in commercial area. Since Park Avenue uptown is all residential, it makes sense that there are no meters. Glenn– Meters (almost?) always go in commercial area. Since Park Avenue uptown is all residential, it makes sense that there are no meters.

]]> By: Mitch http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3869 Mitch Thu, 14 Sep 2006 00:19:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3869 A city can charge a lot of money for residential parking permits, but they don't have to do that to make the program work. Where I live, I pay $21 per year for a parking sticker, which allows me to park all day on my street (without a sticker, there's a two-hour limit between 8 am. and 6 pm. on weekdays). To get a permit, you just need to show an address within the neighborhood, so students can get permits even if their cars are registered at their parents' addresses. These rules sound scandalously easygoing, compared to what's being discussed here for New York, but they do work for us: they discourage commuters from using our neighborhood as a parking lot, and they allow me and my neighbors to park our cars all day while we bike or walk or take the bus to work or school. It's probably different in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but maybe not. How many of the parked cars on those streets belong to people who live on those streets? A city can charge a lot of money for residential parking permits, but they don’t have to do that to make the program work.

Where I live, I pay $21 per year for a parking sticker, which allows me to park all day on my street (without a sticker, there’s a two-hour limit between 8 am. and 6 pm. on weekdays). To get a permit, you just need to show an address within the neighborhood, so students can get permits even if their cars are registered at their parents’ addresses.

These rules sound scandalously easygoing, compared to what’s being discussed here for New York, but they do work for us: they discourage commuters from using our neighborhood as a parking lot, and they allow me and my neighbors to park our cars all day while we bike or walk or take the bus to work or school.

It’s probably different in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but maybe not. How many of the parked cars on those streets belong to people who live on those streets?

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3847 Glenn Wed, 13 Sep 2006 21:16:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3847 More accurate: I live in the poor section (East of Second Ave) of a wealth neighborhood (UES):) I'm not so sure. It seems like simple economic supply and demand, but I'm thinking the price would have to hurt quite a bit in a wealthy area such as mine. Like maybe the permit costs $25-50/day or $500-800 a month, like a garage space. People on Park Ave don't even have parking meters (the only major Avenue that doesn't have them I believe). That might be more based on aesthetics than economics though...I'm really not sure. I guess that would be a great market research question: How many people would be willing to pay $500+ to always get a spot within one block of their apartment? Probably quite a few who currently park in those smelly, dirty garages. More accurate: I live in the poor section (East of Second Ave) of a wealth neighborhood (UES):)

I’m not so sure. It seems like simple economic supply and demand, but I’m thinking the price would have to hurt quite a bit in a wealthy area such as mine. Like maybe the permit costs $25-50/day or $500-800 a month, like a garage space. People on Park Ave don’t even have parking meters (the only major Avenue that doesn’t have them I believe). That might be more based on aesthetics than economics though…I’m really not sure.

I guess that would be a great market research question: How many people would be willing to pay $500+ to always get a spot within one block of their apartment? Probably quite a few who currently park in those smelly, dirty garages.

]]> By: AD http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3846 AD Wed, 13 Sep 2006 20:54:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3846 Glenn - you live in a wealthy area, right? Don't you think that given the choice between plentiful parking that costs money versus free but impossible-to-find parking, your neighbors would choose to pay for spaces? Glenn – you live in a wealthy area, right? Don’t you think that given the choice between plentiful parking that costs money versus free but impossible-to-find parking, your neighbors would choose to pay for spaces?

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3837 Glenn Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:59:47 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3837 Dave - good points. Let's definitely see annoying those folks as a plus side of congestion pricing :) Dave – good points. Let’s definitely see annoying those folks as a plus side of congestion pricing :)

]]> By: Sean http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3835 Sean Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:54:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3835 The fact of the article was a good thing, and she came to the right conclusions. Unfortunately, it isn't a terribly sophisticated analysis. As a result, it will probably persuade fewer people who need persuading. For instance, she never mentioned the theory that reducing traffic actually increases the number of people who visit. The number who don't come by car is more than offset by the increase who come by other means and are more motivated because the decrease in traffic makes the city a more attractive business/shopping/entertainment/etc. destination. The fact of the article was a good thing, and she came to the right conclusions.

Unfortunately, it isn’t a terribly sophisticated analysis. As a result, it will probably persuade fewer people who need persuading.

For instance, she never mentioned the theory that reducing traffic actually increases the number of people who visit. The number who don’t come by car is more than offset by the increase who come by other means and are more motivated because the decrease in traffic makes the city a more attractive business/shopping/entertainment/etc. destination.

]]> By: Dave http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3834 Dave Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:42:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3834 Permit parking would probably annoy a lot of car-owning city dwellers who either: - register their cars elsewhere to save on car insurance - have their primary residence elsewhere to save on city taxes Permit parking should be reserved to those of us who pay city taxes and car insurance. Let the others take their cars elsewhere. Permit parking would probably annoy a lot of car-owning city dwellers who either:

- register their cars elsewhere to save on car insurance
- have their primary residence elsewhere to save on city taxes

Permit parking should be reserved to those of us who pay city taxes and car insurance. Let the others take their cars elsewhere.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3833 Glenn Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:26:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3833 It would certainly please the folks in my area to have residential parking stickers as long as: - It's free - You always get a spot on your block Unfortunately you have to choose between these two. Parking is either plentiful or free, but it can't be both in Manhattan. It would certainly please the folks in my area to have residential parking stickers as long as:

- It’s free
- You always get a spot on your block

Unfortunately you have to choose between these two. Parking is either plentiful or free, but it can’t be both in Manhattan.

]]> By: Adam Piontek http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3830 Adam Piontek Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:12:47 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3830 But then they won't come in and spend their money here! It's cars or nothing! Not being able to move or breathe is a sign of economic prosperity! But then they won’t come in and spend their money here! It’s cars or nothing! Not being able to move or breathe is a sign of economic prosperity!

]]> By: ianqui http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-3824 ianqui Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:41:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/13/new-york-citys-elite-opinion-makers-turn-to-traffic/#comment-3824 <i>Much of the parking in the city is free, even for non-residents - which is not the case in many parts of the country, where residents get special parking permits.</i> Seriously. This is a no-brainer. Chicago, Baltimore, Boston all have resident parking stickers. I'm sure other cities do too. NYC government may not want to piss off city residents, but why should we care about non-city residents? Let them pay. Much of the parking in the city is free, even for non-residents – which is not the case in many parts of the country, where residents get special parking permits.

Seriously. This is a no-brainer. Chicago, Baltimore, Boston all have resident parking stickers. I’m sure other cities do too. NYC government may not want to piss off city residents, but why should we care about non-city residents? Let them pay.

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