The Oil Drum: Local

But there hasn't been much said or reported on any city action on this issue to relieve congestion in the Manhattan CBD...until now.

Donald Shoup's classic "The High Cost of Free Parking" outlines the systemic problems of using free or cheap parking as a lure for people to drive to their destination. This is particularly a problem even in crowded downtown area. Most on street parking in the city is either free or only costs 25-50 cents an hour while the cost of private parking garages is 10-20 times that level. This is a major subsidy to those who drive cars in NYC and represents a loss of precious public space to the rest of the city's residents. It also creates unnecessary traffic and pollution as motorists circle their destinations looking for a cheap spot.

Thankfully, there is a growing group of concerned citizens that are taking action on this. New York Streets Renaissance is supported by a wide coalition of citizen organizations like Transportation Alternatives, Project for Public Spaces and many others. Aaron Naparstek has also started a new blog called NYC Streets Blog as part of the Open Planning Project.

First, you have to watch this hilarious 1 minute clip of an old woman sticking it to an obnoxious motorist that Aaron Naparstek pointed out. Lesson? Don't mess with Granny!

Then, check out this solution to the NYC parking space issue.

Yeah, "Unlimited Space" and I have a bridge to sell you...

The photos of the new Mets Stadium are up on the NY Mets website. I have to say that in contrast to the Yankee stadium deal, there are few controversial issues like stealing a public park or adding new parking garages. Instead, they are building it on the adjacent parking lot, which will occupy a significant number of parking spots during the construction phase. While the designs pictured here seem to have a much larger footprint for the stadium and plaza than the current Shea Stadium, but according to the "fast facts" on the Mets website, the number of parking spots will remain the same after construction is completed. Still, until construction is complete, perhaps the city could conduct an experiment to determine how it can most effectively meet the transportation needs of Mets fans through improved mass transit service on game days?

[Editor's note: In a complete reversal, Bloomberg and Pataki announce plans for an intermodal transit hub at the New Yankee Stadium. Cynical folks are already emailing me saying that this is a last minute snowjob before the city council vote tomorrow. Seems like a delay is in order to consider this new information.]

The proposed plan for the new Yankee Stadium is going from bad to worse. First there was the news story last week that the Empire State Development Corporation is helping to subsidize extra parking garages to the tune of $70m. Then we hear that a long anticipated additional Metronorth stop for the Hudson River Line is "not in the cards". One would hope that this monumental opportunity to build a great transit hub connecting the 4,5,D subway lines and Metronorth in the South Bronx is not lost. Moreover, they are moving the existing parkland into the semi-industrial area nearby and some of it is going to rest on the top of the parking garages.

The lack of metronorth access combined with the increase in parking spaces would create a traffic and pollution nightmare for an area trying to finally get back on it's feet ever since Robert Moses destroyed this area in the name of more highways and the resulting social instability. All so the Yankee players and their suburban fans can fit their SUVs and HUMMERs into a parking space.

The South Bronx needs less cars, not more. It needs to become more sustainable.

The lure of free parking encourages excessive driving. Most side streets in Manhattan have free parking 24/7, except for a couple of hours a week when they clean the streets. This results in a little dance that happens everyday on NYC's streets that most people shrug off as inconsequential, but in reality serves to destroy quality of life and public health. I call it "The Alternate Side Dance".

On the day when the street cleaning happens on one side of the street, people simply do a quick sidestep and double park across the street. This gift to drivers is in not only a theft of valuable public space from pedestrians, but causes increased ground level pollution and noise.

The other day I decided to document the dance that occurs on my block every alternative side day.