Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
John Liu

Want a More ‘Civilized’ Parking Experience? Raise Meter Rates

A Times analysis of parking enforcement trends is raising the hackles of local pols, who see the rising number of citations as evidence supporting pet theories about traffic agent quotas:

City officials say their parking enforcement is not driven by revenue goals. But City Councilman Vincent J. Gentile said his district in southwest Brooklyn has been so overrun by traffic agents that it is hard to conclude otherwise.

"It's a growing recognition that the city is using parking enforcementas a means of revenue generation, not as a means of traffic managementor safety management," he said.

City Council Transportation Committee chair John Liu went so far as to issue a press release calling on the city to scale back parking enforcement:

Liu said he and his fellow Transportation Committee members have workedto reduce unfair ticket writing, increase transparency in the world ofparking enforcement and make parking in the city "a more predictableand civilized experience" through efforts like a bill that required DOTto post on its Website all parking restrictions for each block.

Here's another way to cut down on the number of citations for double-parking, blocking fire hydrants, and obstructing bus lanes: raise meter rates.

DOT is moving in this direction with its PARK Smart pilot program in Greenwich Village. Of course, higher meter rates would still raise revenue and depend on adequate enforcement to achieve the desired effect. This seems like a fair price to assess on vehicles that take up scarce public space and impose billions of dollars in costs on the population of New York. But if PARK Smart ramps up and expands to other parts of the city, will any New York pols be bold enough to recognize it as "civilized" parking practice, or will it, too, get branded as a cash cow?

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Freeze Frame: Fixed Cameras Are Speeding Up Buses In And Out of Bus Lanes

The expansion of bus-mounted traffic enforcement cameras is yielding faster and safer trips for bus riders, the MTA said.

March 25, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: A Pretty Normal Commute Edition

Join us, Sean Duffy, as we ride on the "Shithole Express." Plus other news.

March 25, 2025

Council Transportation Chair Asks DOT To Rip Up a Bike Lane

The same Queens pol who berates the DOT for failing to build enough bike lanes wants one torn out of her district.

March 24, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Subway ‘Shithole’ (Yes, That’s What He Said) Edition

U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy visited a sinkhole in New Jersey, but nonetheless cursed out our subway system. Plus other news.

March 24, 2025

Albany Running Out of Options to Close MTA Funding Gap: Watchdog

Tighten the belt and give up the frills, the Citizens Budget Commission warned.

March 21, 2025
See all posts