tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post6453721577807330803..comments2024-03-02T09:41:35.809-08:00Comments on Donkeylicious - A Blog by Neil Sinhababu and Nicholas Beaudrot: Even In New York City, People Use CarsNeil Sinhababuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03249327186653397250noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-68926087468808702892009-09-30T21:12:51.117-07:002009-09-30T21:12:51.117-07:00Congestion pricing is such a bad idea. First of al...Congestion pricing is such a bad idea. First of all, the congestion alone is enough to make driving in the city during the week so bad that you would only do it if you absolutely had to. It may reduce a bit of congestion at first, but only temporarily until richer people just fill in the gap. Just like how rental prices in Manhattan have risen to ridiculous amounts, so now mostly the rich live here. But the worst part of the plan is that our mass transit is already over capacity. There’s no room right now for any additional people on the subways.Ajlounyhttp://www.nyautoaccidentlaw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-3165024482722960912009-05-19T23:46:07.310-07:002009-05-19T23:46:07.310-07:00Plus ... for large numbers of car commuters, conge...Plus ... for large numbers of car commuters, congestion pricing <I>will</I> benefit them.<br /><br />There are three groups, of unknown size. Those whose time is more valuable than their money (1), those whose money is more valuable than their time who refuse to use transit (2), and those whose money is more valuable than their time who would use transit if its quality was improved (3).<br /><br />(1) and (3) contain winners from congestion pricing to subsidize transit ... plus, of course, existing transit users.<br /><br />And there is the fourth group, which is certainly substantial, the motorists who do not pay anything directly because they do not drive on the streets that face congestion pricing ... but who will gain less traffic congestion in outer boroughs if transit quality improves. They benefit as long as they prefer less congestion to more congestion.BruceMcFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08502035881761277885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3401584991689197404.post-6767883801771453022009-05-18T12:17:00.000-07:002009-05-18T12:17:00.000-07:00This is misleading too, of course -- congestion pr...This is misleading too, of course -- congestion pricing would affect only those commuters who commute by car to midtown, rather than to some outer-borough destination. In particular, outer-borough residents who work in manhattan are the most likely transit users. You can kind of see this in the table you linked -- in Queens, auto commuters work about 50/50 in county and out, but transit commuters are 2-1 out of county. So even if commuting is still about half in cars, the chunk of that that's into the area that matters is smaller than the transit there.Dennisnoreply@blogger.com