Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Election 2013

Simple Questions, Simple Answers About Transportation at Mayoral Debate

If you were hoping for meaningful transportation questions or responses during last night's Democratic mayoral debate, you were in the wrong place.

If you thought the last Democratic mayoral debate was thin on transportation issues, you could be forgiven for thinking that the issue didn't come up at all during last night's event. Blink, and you might have missed it. Like last time, transit was relegated to the lightning round, and thin questions from the moderators didn't elicit much information from the candidates.

At the previous debate, all the candidates had MetroCards in their pockets but we learned last night that they are, for the most part, infrequent straphangers: Thompson said he had last taken the subway on Monday, while de Blasio and Weiner rode the train last week; Liu and Quinn hadn't swiped a MetroCard in about two weeks.

On the subject of the MTA, Liu said he had "gone after very powerful interests," repeating the myth created by disgraced former Comptroller Alan Hevesi that the authority keeps "two sets of books" to obscure its finances from the public.

The candidates all rejected the idea of road tests and licenses for cyclists. Weiner boldly added that cyclists should yield to senior citizens, and Liu said that cyclists should wear helmets. (At the last debate, Liu supported mandatory helmets for "city-sponsored programs" like bike-share; Thompson supported compulsory helmets, while Quinn, de Blasio, and Weiner opposed a helmet law.)

It was a lightning round question from WNBC's David Ushery that most clearly revealed the vacuousness of mainstream discourse on transportation. Ushery asked the candidates if they support tolls on the East River bridges, without mentioning whether the funds would be dedicated to improved transit, or any of the upsides that come from pricing roads. Faced with this question, the candidates were unanimous in their opposition to East River bridge tolls; Liu added that he only supports tolls that exempt city residents from paying the charge.

Profiles in courage, all of them.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts