On Demand
Ru$h Hour
New York City is testing the meters-- parking meters that is. During rush hour, meter rates will double in parts of Manhattan. Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation Janette Sadik-Khan talks about how the plan will reduce traffic congestion. Also in the conversation, Donald Shoup, Professor of Urban Planning at UCLA, makes the case for why cheap parking can hurt the city.
- About the Brian Lehrer Show »
- Staff Bios »
- Contact Us »
- Tapes and Transcripts »
- Latest Episode »
- Show Archive »
Features & Series
Podcast
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to the Podcast
YOU PRODUCE The Brian Lehrer Show
Be a listener-producer with facts, questions and people you'd like to hear on the air.
More
The Brian Lehrer Show Scrapbook
Visit the scrapbook for daily photos and miscellany from The Brian Lehrer Show.
More
Shop at Amazon!
The Brian Lehrer Show picks
Start your Amazon shopping on WNYC.org and a portion of your total purchase goes to WNYC.
More
Comments
Refresh
Any thought to resident parking permits as done in other cities?
please less cars. raise taxi fuel surcharge. more 15 minute only parking. canal street as a pedestrian walk way.
why can't we have more dedicated bike lanes with a raised curb.
I am a positive and inspirational thinker. I think these bike lanes are a great idea. What better idea to let people take a romantic stroll in these lanes for pedestrians at sunrise or sunset. Maybe it will work or maybe it wont....?
Have to figure the benefits to people getting more exercise and encourage people to use less cars.
Cruising for parking>?
Where is this broad getting her lingo>?
The cubby hole?
Will Parking Tickets during peak hours be doubled too? Extra income for the city....
I heard of a ticketing method for illegal bus lane parking where the bus has a camera that photographs the offending vehicle's plate. Is NY using this system or planning to?
stop being cute and just give the info babe
who is this guy professor king of the dorks?
Let's tell the truth -- tell about how in the 1970s builders were PROHIBITED from putting parking garages in their buildings -- do we now have a class action law suit against those legislators for the pollution we now get from cruising for parking spaces?
I don't care, I don't drive. Fight it out so we can move on.
Although because of my office location, I drive to work more often than I would like to, I agree wholeheartedly with the parking meter congestion pricing plan. However, is it possible if you're putting in new meters to make then all coin friendly. I came across meters in Madison, Wisconsin that took all variety of coins. How about meters that take dollar coins are well?
she probably met chris quinn at a "dance"
Is Prof Shoup aware of the cost of parking in a parking garage in the areas being discussed in Manhattan??
Why was Kings Highway chosen for this test program?
In order to help reduce congestion what can be done to facilitate parking for bikes, scooters, and motorcycles? My biggest concerns are theft and bikes getting banged up or tipped over by cars.
If you live in Queens, okay you need a car, the subway system stinks there and the buses aren't much better, but in Manhattan, why do you need a car?
Save that money and buy an iphone. No car insuarnce, no parking fee to maintain it. Why work 12 hours a day at a hard job to pay for a parked car you drive once a week or month?
This is really going to hurt contractors and other business that require a vehicle to render their services. A major component of this congestion is the swarms of selfish citizens that decide to use their own vehicle rather than take the subway.
What should be done is for the city to build more public parking structures that will charge more affordable rates (a great example being Miami Beach).
zzzzzzzzzzzzz...........................
Sounds like another way for the city to make money.
I can hardly understand the woman when she talks, there is some background noise or static on the line.
Congestion parking pricing is a ruse - nothing more than a new revenue scheme. The vast majority of parking spaces are not metered but are hoarded by out of towners and suburbanites who successfully park for free in Manhattan. Just look at the Jersey license plates.
One solution: ditto Toby - set up resident parking stickers.
The real problem are commuters, not local residents, since we don't drive in the city during the week at all.
NO PARKING around fire hydrants.
I've always wondered: Why can't the city authorize high-cost 15 minute parking at fire hydrants with costly fines for people who stay too long? The danger of a fire hydrant being needed during any such period is infintestimal.
Curbside parking should cost more than garage parking because it is more convenient. Even in the two test areas suggested with the more expensive parking, the cost does not reflect the market cost. Curbside parking costs should be based on the market rate.
"broad" way heh he heh
Sad that all so called innovative ideas for traffic improvement involve using pricing schemes to screw the poorer of the folks.
Give us something doesn't cost more and still solves the problems we have that would be creative.
New York is a "city without streets"??? Is that what the commissioner said? What did she mean??
I have never understood why car-owners get free use of valuable New York City real estate for parking cars which really don't belong here in any case. The area occupied by a single parking space could house a small family; who knows, in this crazy city they might even be happy to pay through the nose for the privilege!
The city sends out their parking enforcement people to scour like vultures and bring in $65 and up in ticket income. Parking fines are a HUGE money flow and they last thing they want is to see that go down. Its all about the city making money, nothing to do with the environment.
Problem is that people cruise for street parking because it is so scarce. The City is very much at fault for that, on the UES, anyway. 25-30 years ago, they passed a rule that says if new residential buildings can have parking for only 30% of their units (if you build 200 units, you get 60 spaces), even if they tore down a parking garage to build it!
Bureaucrats probably figure nobody living in Manhattan should own a car. That goes against human nature. It also works against the middle class. Yet another reason why Manhattan is now only for the rich.
my husband and i drove to the East Village this past Saturday to visit friends. Stunned that a quarter only earned us 10 minutes of parking (as opposed to Queens, where $0.25 gets you a half hour) we drove around looking for a free spot until we found one. But I guess, most people don't really care, they just pop the quarter in.
pedistrian streets have always seems atificial to me. The hustle and bustle of real traffic with business reasons is what gives a neighborhood character.
The only people who'll be affected by increasing parking meter costs are low-income, some of whom do, of necessity (disability, age) own cars.
Manhattan for the wealthy.
Everyone else: get out!
the new parking costs will only make double parking more common. I think our taxes would be better spent by enforcing double parking rules. Heck! We may even make a little money on all those double parking tickets. Whatever the case there is not enough enforcement now... especially in midtown.
why does the city need the state for every little thing. isn't there already enough that albany doesn't do
HOME RULE NOW!
City without streets????? she's the commissioner of what???????????????
yes it's called "Broadway" for a reason. what a genius!!!!!
She's part of the big cabal of nepotism hires. Worst and the dullest. A monotone numb nuts.
Brian,
I have always wonderd whether angled parking on residential side streets would yield more spaces than the current parallel parking. Dopes the commisioner have any thoughts on this?
How would you handle families with four cars? Many of my former neighbors in Brooklyn had numerous cars and hogged all of the parking spaces...
THIS IS REGRESSIVE!!!! THAT'S WHAT IT IS!!!!!!!!!! A REGRESSIVE TAX ON THE POOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
what about actually enforcing traffic laws against motorists who disrupt bicycle commuters? Blocking bike lanes, aggressive driving etc. Also pedestrians in the bike lanes! Make bicycling more attractive.
I think that the only thing this plan will accomplish will be to generate more revenue for the city... is this based on the assumption that people park in the city for pleasure? Most of us park on the street because we cannot afford the prices of parking garages and also because we have no other choice...
As a frequent bike rider around Manhattan & Brooklyn for the last 15 years, I have noticed that congestion from traffic predominantly comes from trucks making deliveries and infrastructure repair (Con Ed, Keyspan, etc.) and construction. Double parked cars are minimal in comparison.
Regarding truck delivery- tractor trailors have no business in Manhattan- period. Deliveries should be restricted to non-peak hours (the middle of the night?). Raising the price of the meters will have absolutely no impact whatsoever.
When I lived in Brooklyn and had a car, I had this pet parking peeve: people with garages who took up three spaces - one in the garage which was filled with xmas decorations, one with the cutout for the driveway to the garage, and one where car was parked on the street
Hey let's close ave of the americas so people have to walk around it on fifth avenue. we'll turn it into bowling lanes or a cricket park!!!
in my neighborhood, cars which are registered in almost ever state can be found. i guess they don't want to pay NY insurance rates, could they get residential parking?
i would be happy if the answer is no.
Has Ms. Sadik-Khan ever had to parrell park in NY? Has Bloomberg ever had to metered park in NY?
Both sound like Brie munching Chardoney sipping elitists who want to help only Manhattanites and tourists.
You know a lot of middle class folks in the outer bouroughs work hard and have decided to have a little bit of luxury with a car. And it seems that Bloomberg is obessed with urninating on the middle class. Parking meter hikes, congestion pricing is another attack by Bloomberg on the middle class.
Another major cause of traffic problems is the plethora of so-called street fairs. We city residents are the losers everywhere they pop up. Who benefits?
Bravo to the caller/blogger who raised neighborhood resident parking permits. There is no better way to dramatically reduce street parking and cruising.
Every major city that uses it has found it beneficial: Boston, Chicago, San Francisco.
I live in the East 80's and every day there are 15 to 20 cars parked on my street with out-of-State license plates and registrations. Weekends are often worse than business days. All nearby streets are equally affected.
As things stand we are encouraging people to visit New York by car and to be confident that they have a better than even chance of finding a space.
With all respect, Shupe, whose L.A. environment is totally different from NYC- is mistaken in thinking that too many New Yorkers in need of parking make permits impractical. 80% of New Yorkers do not drive, and the rate for Manhattan residents is even greater. Also: What is happening with reducing City agency employee parking passes? There is no perceptible reduction in this abuse in my neighborhood.
>>>Posted by: Andrew July 14, 2008 - 10:58AM
Williamsburg
>>>Regarding truck delivery- tractor trailors have no business in Manhattan- period. Deliveries should be restricted to non-peak hours (the middle of the night?). Raising the price of the meters will have absolutely no impact whatsoever.<<<
I hope you are willing to pay higher prices. That costs money.
I agree, say raise the rate to 5$, hopefully more people will double park, meters will expire and more cars will be ticketed.
we should also raise the ticket prices and soon just tow the car when the meter expires, more spaces will become available and the city will make more of a killing on all of the associated fees!
John
Bloomberg uses the subway that's how new yorkers get around.
they need to continue to "look at" resident parking stickers?? look to cities like chicago, who have had the zones hugging downtown zoned for that use for decades. it works. drives people who need to park into nearby garages, benefiting them greatly.
A huge percentage of cars parked on street are out of towners - I'm for regional street parking throughout Manhattan (or at least below say 135th St) for people whose primary residence is in Manhattan!! Let the non-Manhattanites take public transit or park in a garage (and pay the city parking tax!) We pay our taxes and circle for an hour looing at NJ/CT/LI plates in our neighborhoods.
Meter parking for everyone - I like the rush hour differential idea.
I think the city should eliminate free parking. The city should paint white lines marking off parking spaces on every street and then auction off 1 and 2 year leases on the spots. No more cruising for parking. The people in a neighborhood would be willing to pay more than outsiders (unless you live on Wall Street). It would raise a lot of revenue for the city and probably reduce the number of cars as well. Meter maids would only make sure that the correct person was parked in each spot, ticketing interlopers.
This is nothing but another money grab by the city on whatever remains of the middle class of this city. This commissioner should be run out of her job. They seem to be doing everything possible to make congestion worse and price the middle class out of the city - either by nickel and diming them this way or with onerous income and property taxes. Soon enough, you can count me as one of those who have left because of it.
I am so incredibly tired of all the social engineering that goes on in this city which does nothing but increase the costs and aggravation level of the residents. People don't drive through the city for a pleasure cruise.
John 49
the costs would go down if deliveries could be made faster.
cars don't belong in the city, to think other wise is selfishness.
NO MORE BLOOD FOR OIL
freedom? 50
great ideas!
Here's another creative way the city of New York has discouraged parking and car ownership by city residents who do not have garages: I had a car I used to park on the streets of the Upperwestside. It was towed by the city but when I inquired the city denied having towed it and claimed not have my car. Two months later I received a notice that my car would be sold at auction (the very day the notice arrived) to cover towing & storage fees for the past two months. I did not have the opportunity to retrieve my car. Exactly the same thing had already happened to my next door neighbor who attempted to gain compensation for this mistake but was unsuccessful.
I am a resident of Greenwich Village, living in the area being considered for this parking change.
I really don't understand the choice of this stretch of 7th avenue in the Village. It is one of the few places one can always find parking and traffic flows nicely. I just went out there and half the spaces are available and there is little traffic. To my mind, this means that people will now cruise the little streets of my area even more looking for the free or more affordable option.
I am tired of the city's constant regressive taxes under the Bloomberg administration. We are not all millionaires.
That stretch of 7th Ave is dangerous mid-afternoon until 7 PM due to the Holland Tunnel traffic. That problem should be addressed.
Erin states: "my husband and i drove to the East Village this past Saturday to visit friends. Stunned that a quarter only earned us 10 minutes of parking (as opposed to Queens, where $0.25 gets you a half hour) we drove around looking for a free spot until we found one. But I guess, most people don't really care, they just pop the quarter in."
You might have spent more on gas than you saved on parking, to say nothing of lost time. Whatever plan they come up with, I hope it provides incentives for people traveling within the city to take the buses & trains.
Serena
that will teach you to park in a legal spot won't it!
also wasn't your life better after you were freed from your auto enslavement?
Anne 59
maybe you should move? ohio or scranton area?
Brie munching Chardoney sipping elitist 60
YES indeed, pound foolish
pass the crackers
How is it that some neighborhoods don't even have alternate side parking restrictions?
46th Street and other parts of eastern Astoria don't have any signs restricting parking.
Re: hjs post [61]
I was towed from a legal parking spot and so was my neighbor. You seem confused about the crime committed. My car was stolen from me. I was penalized for not having a private parking garage. No, having my property stolen from me was in no way freeing. I lost the value of my car.
oh yes please take the public transportation which is a monopoly, soon it will also be 5$ for a one way ride :)
dont worry about living, just work, get paid, pay taxes and work more pay more. duh! you guys dont get it.
Serena
well enron stole my money so i guess it all works out in the end
Looks like everyone's left the building, so pardon if I respond at length to some posts...
Lilac Fairy (3): Why does a Manhattan resident need a car? First, it's not your business to decide that, and for that matter you don't really need a car in Forest Hills, either. If a middle class Manhattan resident wants a car to visit friends or family elsewhere in the region on weekend, to take same out of town for recreation, or to go shopping, whatever, why are they different from you? The difference is that you have cheap local parking. Manhattan residents should have the same, possibly taxed to encourage only long-term storage (as the parking tax was also reduced for residents). But it would take decades now to reduce the harm. By then, Manhattan will be Tokyo.
Rose (33) and Whoindatgarden (26): Agreed.
Congestion entry pricing.
Congestion parking meter rates.
Traffic light cameras giving tickets that (unlike cops') carry no points, just a fine.
See the pattern? No pain if you're rich.
Madeline (28): Agreed, sort of. But we're not talking about the few who use their cars to get around Manhattan during business hours. Madeline, there are other times of day and OTHER places to go! The solution should be affordable off-street, long-term parking for Manhattan residents (probably based on likely demand by residents in and near new buildings, but it could be encouraged by concessions, as public spaces are). This would allow opening a lane on some side streets, (or allow avenue parking to be moved to side streets). Converting parking spaces to low-income housing is hardly realistic, but does raise the issue of politics. Unfortunately, the parking garages have tremendous political power and every reduction in competition is more money in their pockets. So without better insight from the politicians, nobody's going to build off-street parking at this point unless it's mandated. People who can afford new construction in Manhattan now can afford to pay virtually anything to park or to rent a car.
HJS (51, 61, etc): It's hard to tell whether your many posts are serious, or just meant to be humorous, or if you're playing both sides of the street. If serious, how do you figure "auto enslavement"? Do you know Serena? How do I politely say, "What arrogance!"? If humorous, sorry, it’s not a funny subject at all, from the point of view of people here who probably feel as if they've been abused, kicked and even kind of raped (ever experienced a robbery, HJS?), or are simply disappointed with politicians and bureaucrats who just don't get it.
Serena: I understand. When I lived on the UES, my car was stolen off the street. It was found in the Bronx, supposedly stripped. I hadn’t yet realized it was missing. It took a week more to appear in the City's computer, so even NYPD didn't know it had been found. Law that says if a car is worth a less than a certain amount and no plates, city can junk it without notifying anyone. I had only Sanitation's word that the car was seriously stripped (a meaninglessly general checklist, not so much as a Polaroid). They said it had been crushed before it even showed in the database. Same law says the proceeds of disposal must be paid to the owner within a year. But the City said I had to claim it within 90 days of the theft! I figured there was no net money, but sued the City for at least an accounting, and like you, I lost. In my brief, I asked: If I lend you $1,000 for a year, in writing, and after a year I say please pay it back, can you reasonably say no because I didn't ask within the first 90 days? Although the judge answered all my other points, she didn't respond to that one. Carfax later said my car was retitled a few months later. Not crushed? My guess is it was bought at auction and the parts put back on. The kicker is this: My rep in Albany, Pete Grannis, was head of the insurance committee. I asked him to revise the law so at least police are notified before possible evidence is destroyed, but he did nothing. Enjoy your insurance rates, everyone.
rudy
"it's not your business to decide that,"
but since someone selfishness has an effect on my life it is my business. that's my road i paid for it, my air and my cost go up with every car on the street.
in the city of the future we'll stop thinking about our needs and think about the good of the many.
rudy
true i don't know Serena, how could i??
but i don't buy her story. she's claiming we live in a lawless state. do u know her. can u testify to her sanity?
my comments are for my own amusement any one else can hate me or love me I don't care (having been read several times on air by BL won't stop me either.)
it's time we reexamine everything in our sad state of affairs (have you been to europe they deal with cars others ways, better ways.) if you don't want to you are the problem. go fiddle while roma burns. it like a good tune as well.
PS you do know we are pay billions for an oil war plus $5 gas is coming??
Leave a Comment
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Back to EpisodeEmail addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. WNYC reserves the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the WNYC.org Comment Guidelines before posting.