Comments on: Curbside Space Wars

By: Mordecai

Mordecai — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:43:24 +0000

Ummm… an increase in demand classically drives prices up, rather than down. I agree that the supply of rental cars would likely increase as prices went up, but the new stable price would likely be higher, not lower, absent subsidies.

By: tps12

tps12 — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:35:00 +0000

The massive decrease in private car ownership resulting from this kind of policy change should also drive down rental rates and create more of a competitive market for ZipCar-like services. So people who really do need a car on occaision wouldn’t be left out in the cold.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 03:09:58 +0000

And the cars at the curb in front of the Synagogue are not parked illegally. There are no reserved spots in front. Or for the two physician offices next door, or for the hotel or anything else on the block except for hydrants and the bus stops…

By: Glenn

Glenn — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:40:38 +0000

Andrew

I definitely agree about the buffer. I would like more curbside space used for a variety of different uses that would benefit the surrounding residents, businesses and essential services like passenger pick-up/drop-offs, truck loading zones, bike parking, taxi stands and garbage pick-up. In places where there is no buffer, like bus stops and such, bollards should be installed.

Glenn

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:23:47 +0000

Andrew, I agree with the need for a buffer. I don’t think anyone has proposed the elimination of curbside parking altogether. I think Glenn was trying to say that certain curbside parkers should be promoted over other others.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:33:36 +0000

Let’s not get carried away. While parking meters should charge a market rate for the privilege of parking on city streets, eliminating curbside parking altogether poses problems as well as providing benefits. Anyone who as ever walked on a sidewalk bordering directly on high speed traffic (without the cover of on street parking) will tell you it’s an unpleasant experience. Whatever their defects, cars parked on street provide a valuable buffer between the pedestrian realm of the sidewalk and the moving traffic on city streets.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 20:39:31 +0000

Not to mention that in the photo above, it would appear that most of those cars are illegally parked in front of what looks to be a synagogue.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:57:37 +0000

Amen, Glenn. Given the price of garage parking in Manhattan, I can’t blame the free curbside parkers–its like waiting in line for free tickets to Rent. If garage parking is $600/month in the West 80s (and that’s a deal), then a curbside parking space for the 48-hour duration of the alternative side rule is worth at least $40, and more like $70 (because garages don’t let you pro-rate the monthly amount).

Why the free giveaway to encourage people to sit in their car reading the paper or listening to the iPod for 3 hours out of every 48–or to encourage people to own a car in NYC when in most cases they have little reason to do so or don’t need an incentive to do so?