Comments on: DOT Study Measures Lower Manhattan Placard Abuse

By: Bobby G

Bobby G — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:32:00 +0000

Lower Manhattan, in response to your comment, I agree it would be very interesting to see that. I imagine, however, that it would be hard to quantify that while in the field. I have some experience with field surveys, and at some point you have to limit the number of parameters being sought. It is clear that this was an extremely robust study covering a wide area, and trying to obtain such detailed information about each vehicle would likely prove quite difficult. Pretty good study and report, I thought, however your point is well-taken.

By: lower manhattan

lower manhattan — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:35:26 +0000

From the report, I couldn’t see if they made any attempt to determine if the legitimate placards were actually being used for legitimate reasons. E.g.,how many of the law enforcement/agency placards were being used by friends and relatives to shop at Century 21? How many of the handicapped cars were being used by the handicapped person? I’d also like to see an inventory of off-street parking that was available at the time so we can quantify the hidden cost to the public of 1) placard-abusers not paying for parking, and 2) the burden borne by the general public forced to use garages because there is no turnover on the street.

I will be surprised if commercial interests don’t sue the city for the damages to their businesses that are the result of this (including tickets for double parking).

By: Jones

Jones — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:50:48 +0000

FYI – The best way to ensure a study is not read by the public is to make it 400 pages long and release on a Friday afternoon the week of a major sex scandal. Way to bury this one!

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:56:53 +0000

Says it all.

There are the placard people.

There are the black car people.

The rest of us are not people. We are certainly not the “middle class” regardless of our income.