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Roughly 97% of parking spaces in NYC are free. - Page 5 — Brooklynian

Roughly 97% of parking spaces in NYC are free.

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Comments

  • booklaw
    booklaw

    I am astonished that this thread has gone on this long. It has gone on so long, in fact, that you may all have forgotten a point I made pages and pages ago: if you think it is ok to repurpose "public space" currently used by what you deem to be a minority of the population, then other majorities may just decide to repurpose other kinds of public space used by other minorities of the population.

    We could begin questioning the allocation of huge amounts of public space for schools and playgrounds... surely families of school-age children are a minority in the city.

    We then consider parks and sporting fields... who needs 'em?

    Finally, consider the huge amount of space devoted to museums, libraries, and arts performance spaces, such as Lincoln Center. Only the well to do and the intelligentsia will miss them. Certainly they are in the minority in this city.

    We all need to be careful about assuming that our concepts of what is in the best interest of the most people actually matter. Other people may have different concepts, and a greater ability to command political pressure to put them into action. Once we adopt the premise that we are free to challenge other people's right to continue using public space that they've grown accustomed to using, other people are similarly empowered to challenge the usage rights we hold dear.

  • cool the kid
    cool the kid

    Boygabriel said:

    No, the topic of discussion is how much public space should be devoted to roads and parking, not who uses roads.

    (edited for clarity and snarkiness)

    Yea but we can't just discuss said space as some malleable non descript entity. It's curbside space on the streets of one of the busiest cities in the world. It's space that is not exactly easy to convert to other use and is not in particularly high demand on a city wide basis, except for maybe more efficient public transportation routing. And I am speaking anecdotally, but I don't think this specific space is in particularly high demand, outside of the general auspice of public space in NYC. That in 5 pages nobody has been able to present a solid idea for the use of said space says a lot (no offense guys)

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    I just think the space is becoming vulnerable to grabbing now that cars are becoming demonized, and that folks can now dream a little. It's related to the idea people have that they can somehow have an effect on the "saving planet", despite the fact that the problem is over population. For every gallon of gas you save, another smog creating baby is born. (?!)

    Yet, we are not talking about saving the planet ...just about making NYC a little more pleasant to live in.

    Booklaw-

    Have you heard of zero based budgeting? I think applying it to land use would be great. We'd declare every parcel of land to be up for grabs, then create some crazy democratic process to distribute it and then take it back, and then the next time we convene do it all over redistribute it again.

    I love madness, but unfortunately no one is proposing that in this thread. Maybe next time will take the slippery slope that far, but so far we have avoided it.

    (cue John Lennon singing "All we are saying is give land reuse a chance")


  • mrs whynot
    mrs whynot

    modsquad2.0 said:

    Seriously can the MTA eliminate running an extra train or two on a daily basis because we can count on these people taking to their bikes daily? There's another thread somewhere that gave statistics that said peak bicycle commuting occurred around 12 noon. Not exactly evidence that people are actually going to a job.

    Regarding maintenance by the way. There is zero.

    Yes, if enough people took to their bikes regularly, the MTA would adjust lines accordingly. Service is varied seasonally and snow could factor into the mix. I know no one will believe it, but the schedules are changed on a regular basis based on turnstile counts. There are lines - Lexington Avenue - where the numbers of bike riders would have to exceed the "over capacity" problem as well as a full train in order to have this affect, but it could happen.

    Rest assured, the MTA will never see bike riders as a threat to the core mission of the Authority.

    Sorry to have been at work and not monitoring this thread sufficiently - hence my late response.

  • mrs whynot
    mrs whynot

    whynot_31 said:

    Using no maps, I believe that this would leave 93% of the parking places in the city as "free".

    So much of living with Mr. Whynot is having conversations without a map.

  • mrs whynot
    mrs whynot

    booklaw said:

    It has gone on so long, in fact, that you may all have forgotten a point I made pages and pages ago: if you think it is ok to repurpose "public space" currently used by what you deem to be a minority of the population, then other majorities may just decide to repurpose other kinds of public space used by other minorities of the population.

    Booklaw: I did respond to your point. You simply forgot what I said. Instead of expressing faux stupefaction at length, repetitiveness and selective editing, respond to my uber-long comment several pages ago.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    How could any regular reader, much less a mod, be amazed at how long we can type about dribble.

    Just wait until our conclusions are enacted!

  • cool the kid
    cool the kid

    mrs whynot said:

    Sorry to have been at work and not monitoring this thread sufficiently - hence my late response.

    Ha, hey now, online discussions should take precedence over EVERYTHING :lol:

    Seriously though I don't see biking as a viable commuting alternative for much of the city; efforts to make more cycling friendly environments should be very limited in scope to projects that would maximize effectiveness (i.e. the Kent Ave Hipster Silk Route)

  • whyfi
    whyfi

    After a nice, long day away from home (and the computer), do I really want to jump back in to this thread? Nah, I'll just end up having to refute tangential, asinine assertions like, a family of 4 NEEDS to own a car in NYC. Gimme a fuggin' break.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Hierarchy of Needs



    .

    .

    .

    Nope, no cars.

  • cool the kid
    cool the kid

    WhyFi said:

    After a nice, long day away from home (and the computer), do I really want to jump back in to this thread? Nah, I'll just end up having to refute tangential, asinine assertions like, a family of 4 NEEDS to own a car in NYC. Gimme a fuggin' break.

    If one considers NYC to be the little world encapsulated between CH & Manhattan, yes, that assumption is absurd. Unfortunately for you, much of NY is about as suburban, sparse, and poorly covered by public transit as Anytown, US, where cars are indeed a requirement for the average family.

    I don't want to make assumptions or jump down people's throats, but statements like 'no family in NYC needs a car' can IMO only be borne out of ignorance of what NYC is like off the subway map.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    <<< attempts to ad facts to the conversation.

    Facts Re: "what NYC is like off the subway map"

    http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/transportation/residential_parking.pdf

  • whyfi
    whyfi

    Cool The Kid said:

    If one considers NYC to be the little world encapsulated between CH & Manhattan, yes, that assumption is absurd. Unfortunately for you, much of NY is about as suburban, sparse, and poorly covered by public transit as Anytown, US, where cars are indeed a requirement for the average family.

    I don't want to make assumptions or jump down people's throats, but statements like 'no family in NYC needs a car' can IMO only be borne out of ignorance of what NYC is like off the subway map.

    Uh, no one made that statement so you can hold on to your humble opinion. And talk about ignorance, it's a two-way street - you sound like a person that hasn't spent enough of your 26 years in Anytown, USA. The worst PT that the 5 boroughs has to offer is better than what the majority of country can claim.

    Oh, FYI, stop thinking that the prevailing attitudes of your cycling friends are representative of cyclists. Their attitude is less of a trait of people that like to bike, and more of a reflection of your social circles.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    whyfi wrote: The worst PT that the 5 boroughs has to offer is better than what the majority of country can claim.

    hmmmm

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_New_York_City

    yup.

  • whyfi
    whyfi

    whynot_31 said:

    <<< attempts to ad facts to the conversation.

    Facts Re: "what NYC is like off the subway map"

    http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/transportation/residential_parking.pdf

    This thread has an abundance of facts... unfortunately, the primary use of these facts seems to be setting them up as strawmen...

  • boygabriel
    boygabriel

    whynot_31 said:

    <<< attempts to ad facts to the conversation.

    Facts Re: "what NYC is like off the subway map"

    http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/transportation/residential_parking.pdf

    It's almost as if the question of public space and car ownership has been considered for decades!

    And beyond that, actual research has been done!

    I definitely look forward to checking this out. Thank you.

  • boygabriel
    boygabriel

    PS. Mrs Whynot's avatar is the winner.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Boygabriel said:

    PS. Mrs Whynot's avatar is the winner.

    Yes, it's all about fond memories of Ms. Pacman. Facts have nothing to do with it.

    I'm told once this thread is finished, we can submit this thread to the American Planning Association and we will all receive honorary certificates in Transportation Planning.

  • cool the kid
    cool the kid

    Report is full of gems indeed

    One reason for the modest influence of transit proximity on car ownership could be that New

    York City resident workers’ commutation patterns, in many cases, direct them away from the

    primary destination of transit in the city’s core, toward areas in the boroughs outside Manhattan

    or in the suburbs which are more conveniently accessed by car.
    Wait, everyone in NYC doesn't live near a subway & commute to Manhattan???????

    There are people living within the confines of NYC's borders who are justified in owning cars???

    Hey BG, unless I'm mistaken you live in a pretty high density area. But I also remember you saying you commute by bike into the city. So what do you have a car for? Where do you park it?

    Thanks for the link whynot.

  • boygabriel
    boygabriel

    There's plentiful free street parking near me. There's nothing whatsoever discouraging me from owning & keeping one. The city dictated what the land is for, I use it.

    (see how that works?)

    I will happily give it up, along with parking spaces and lanes of traffic, for other land use.

    Happily.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    I know of no requirement that people who will lose free street parking be happy about it.

    Whew

  • boygabriel
    boygabriel

    Just preempting the forthcoming 'you're a hypocrite therefore your argument is invalid' accusation.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    Just making sure that folks know that consensus does not need to be reached before policies are implemented.

    Not everyone is going to be happy, and that's ok.

  • cool the kid
    cool the kid

    Not saying that your arguments are invalid BG, but if you feel so strongly about the misuse of public space why needlessly add to the problem? If anything you should park your car in a private garage and turn your street spot into a mini public park :mrgreen:

  • boygabriel
    boygabriel

    1) Yes, I should get rid of my car and probably will sooner rather than later. If I didn't live on a block with constantly empty spaces, or if I moved to a neighborhood with less parking, I probably would have already.

    2) The land use around me is already dictated by the city: the outer lanes on the roads are for parking. If the city or neighborhood undertook to get rid of some parking, I'd get rid of my car, rather than argue that we should keep nearly maximum on-street parking in my 'hood.

  • whyfi
    whyfi

    Anyone down for a ride? Just got my new wheel build finished... no? Damn...

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    <<<< wonders how many car drivers will find a way to adapt or get rid of thier cars.

    You know, the ones at the margin. The ones who don't really "need" thier cars.

    From this small inconvenience, will society get rid of a few more cars?

    At what point does a few people incurring costs justify the benefits received by the masses?

  • boygabriel
    boygabriel

    I wonder that too. I'm very interested in reading this book.

  • whyfi
    whyfi

    whynot_31 said:

    From this small inconvenience, will society get rid of a few more cars?

    Sure. For some, I can see the next little inconvenience, whether it's this or something else, being the last straw.

  • boygabriel
    boygabriel

    This is getting to central question: how much is the city encouraging people to own individual cars beyond the level that they're needed for work or mobility or shopping.

    the following question is: should this encouragement be lessened?

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