Wiki Wednesday: Car-Free in NYC
Photo: Ed Yourdan/FlickrIf you live in New York City, chances are you've already done your part this Earth Day with a car-free commute to work. As this week's featured Streetswiki article by DianaD reminds us, vehicle ownership in the five boroughs is far less common than in most areas of the U.S. -- even in relatively auto-centric Staten Island, where 18 percent of households are car-free.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, only 8% ofAmerican households do not own a car. Vehicle ownership is stronglyrelated to distance traveled. People in households with at least onevehicle travel twice far as those in households without a vehicle. Theyalso use a car for more than 90% of their trips, while those without avehicle travel on foot or via transit 57% of the time. Households witha vehicle walk or take public transit for only 1% and 8% of theirtrips, respectively.
In addition to a more pedestrian-friendly street grid than most Americans enjoy, most New Yorkers owe their car-freedom, of course, to the MTA. However, even as the city looks to expand sustainable transportation options to complement its overworked mass transit system, the majority of its citizens remain at the mercy of motoring class lawmakers who spew anti-MTA vitriol like so much noxious CO2.
It would have been nice this April 22 to wake up to headlines announcing that the Fare Hike Four and their ilk had come to realize that they could, and should, promote a healthy transit system while reducing congestion and pollution. Unfortunately, news that good only comes on April 1.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
Friday’s Headlines: Canal Street Follies Edition
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine isn't happy. Plus other news.
Daylight Again: Bronx Community Board Backs Parking Ban at Intersections
The Boogie Down is down with daylighting!
Community Board Wants Protected Bike Lane on Empire Blvd.
Brooklyn Community Board 9 wants city to upgrade Empire Boulevard's frequently blocked bike lane, which serves as a gateway to Prospect Park.
The Brake: Why We Can’t End Violence on Transit With More Police
Are more cops the answer to violence against transit workers, or is it only driving societal tensions that make attacks more frequent?
Report: Road Violence Hits Record in First Quarter of 2024
Sixty people died in the first three months of the year, 50 percent more than the first quarter of 2018, which was the safest opening three months of any Vision Zero year.
