Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Elections

NYers Not Sold on Notion That Livable Streets Are Wrecking Economy

pollgrab.jpg

Here's a chart breaking down New York Times exit poll results from the mayoral election.

What sticks out to us is not so much that 3 percent of voters rated transportation as the "one issue" that mattered most to them, since many who participated could care a great deal about transportation and you wouldn't know it. Notice instead how Bloomberg dominated the issue of economy and jobs, even in this terrible downturn, despite Thompson's attempts to portray livable streets improvements as assaults on small businesses.

Obviously, despite the low level of interest indicated here, transportation matters. Otherwise pols wouldn't drone on about the MTA ad nauseam. But what do these numbers tell you?

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Delivery App Regulation Should Learn from Commercial Carting Reform

Third party delivery apps say they have no ability to police the very system they created — while the city's patchwork regulation isn't addressing the root of the problem.

November 17, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Permanent Paseo Edition

We journeyed to Jackson Heights to celebrate a milestone in the life of the 34th Avenue open street. Plus other news.

November 17, 2025

‘The Brake’ Podcast: Is a ‘Life After Cars’ Really Possible?

"This book is an invitation to imagine a better world in which people are put before cars," says co-author Sarah Goodyear.

November 17, 2025

World Day of Remembrance: ‘My Brother Did Not Die in Vain’

A drunk driver killed Kevin Cruickshank while he was biking in New York City. The movement for safer streets showed me that my brother did not die in vain.

November 16, 2025

World Day of Remembrance: The Fight to ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Has Gone National

The bills would require the worst of the worst drivers to at least adhere to the speed limit, which is not too much to ask.

November 16, 2025

Council Members Put Everything But Riders First at ‘Bus Oversight’ Hearing

The Council spent its last bus oversight hearing of its term asking the MTA and city to pull back on bus lane enforcement.

November 14, 2025
See all posts