Congestion Pricing Op-Art: The Joke’s on Whom?
Cartoonist, writer and former Ford Motor Company employee Bruce McCall offers this "Wouldn't it be funny if.." rendition of post-congestion pricing Manhattan, from Sunday's New York Times (click here for the full illustration). As with his confounding and flip Atlantic Yards illo from a year ago, it's hard to discern what McCall is trying to say here.
By
Brad Aaron
4:04 PM EDT on August 21, 2007
Cartoonist, writer and former Ford Motor Company employee Bruce McCall offers this “Wouldn’t it be funny if..” rendition of post-congestion pricing Manhattan, from Sunday’s New York Times (click here for the full illustration). As with his confounding and flip Atlantic Yards illo from a year ago, it’s hard to discern what McCall is trying to say here.
Or is it? One Streetsblog tipster, referring to the piece as “egregious,” wrote of the Times: “They really don’t get it.” Yet the NYT has published numerous pro-pricing editorials as well.
What’s your take?
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.
Read More:
More from Streetsblog New York City
Council Speaker Slams Amazon For Delivery Worker Layoffs
Speaker Julie Menin said that the firing of 200 workers shows the need to regulate Amazon.
November 13, 2026
A Brooklyn Artist Built A Tower To Memorialize Victims Of Road Crashes
The landscape of New York City is really a crashscape.
November 13, 2026
Friday’s Headlines: Make Delivery Work Edition
Council Member Harvey Epstein wants to force delivery apps to provide rest areas, bathrooms and e-bike charging for their workers. Plus more news.
November 13, 2026
Transportation Advocates Split on Senate’s Big Permitting Bill
Would the BAAJA blast multimodal projects out of bureaucratic purgatory, make it a breeze to expand highways ... or both? Advocates sound off.
November 13, 2026
City to Close Bus-Clogged Lane on the Manhattan Bridge
Bus drivers love to block the lane, but it’s an opportunity to think much bigger.
November 12, 2026