Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Livable Streets

The Cost of Free Residential Parking

1:14 PM EDT on September 1, 2006

August_2006_004.jpg

No Curbside Access for Trucks Create Traffic Jams Across the City

There is a source of congestion on every city street that has a solution. We need trucks to deliver goods to our stores, deliver food to our restaurants and to move furniture into and out of our homes. 100% of Manhattan's goods enter the island by truck. But there is no curbside place for trucks on most of our streets to make their necessary deliveries. Instead, we see situations like this where trucks are forced to double park, congesting a street, accumulating lots of tickets (which get passed onto consumers), causing lots of horn honking which disrupts the neighborhood all while they are performing a necessary task to sustain our economy. This is the cost of turning a side street over to 100% free residential parking.

I'm not saying I want more trucks on the streets (in fact, I would love to see fewer Fresh Direct trucks). I just think folks should recognize that we need trucks to make the city work and through simple changes in parking regulations, we can accommodate them, improve quality of life by reducing congestion, noise and  the costs to small businesses that get passed on to consumers.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Police Brass Gets Booed During E-Vehicle Safety Alliance Meeting for Applauding Deliveristas

Attendees of the E-Vehicle Safety Alliance's latest meeting castigated a Transportation Bureau deputy inspector for saying that delivery workers are responsive to safety issues.

September 28, 2023

Thursday’s Headlines: Unsafe School Streets Edition

A school crossing guard was injured by a drunk driver on Tuesday. Plus more news.

September 28, 2023

EYES ON THE STREET: Drivers Dominate Former W. 22nd Open Street

Meh. The barriers are gone and the cars are back on W. 22nd, but some spaces for people remain.

September 28, 2023

‘Not Grieving Alone’: A Father’s Artistic Journey After Losing Two Kids to Road Violence

Colin Campbell and his wife Gail Lerner lost both their children in a car crash with impaired driver. Now, it's a show.

September 28, 2023

Opinion: Bring Back ‘Give Respect/Get Respect’ Campaign

If cyclists don't throw their own bad apples under the bus, we won't get safer streets, argues this West Side advocate.

September 27, 2023
See all posts