Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Street Cheats

Street Cheats Are Bullish on Pine Street in the Financial District

If only NYPD could do something about placard abusers clogging the streets.

Streets in the Financial District predate the automobile and are very narrow by today's standards. Park cars on both sides and you're likely to get a bottleneck that jams up surrounding blocks.

But tell that to the placard-holding Street Cheats who frequently take over both curbs on Pine Street between William and Nassau, causing headache-inducing scenes like the one captured on video by our tipster.

Metered commercial parking lines the south side of Pine, and the north side is a no standing zone. Where there's designated car-free curb space, however, there are bound to be placard abusers to fill it up.

Placards also bring an unmanageable amount of traffic to downtown streets. A study by Bruce Schaller estimated that 19,200 vehicles are drawn into Manhattan by free placard parking every day. Letting placard holders park all over the place compounds the problem.

"This is one of the worst pedestrian experiences in the whole city and these placard holders are a big reason why," writes our tipster. "Aside from the white box truck, the only non-placards parked here were two cars with people sitting in them with the engines running."

Congestion pricing would help thin traffic in Lower Manhattan. And as our tipster suggests, so would a network of downtown streets that prioritize walking and limit motor vehicle traffic to deliveries.

Watch in the video as police from the 1st Precinct get bogged down with everyone else. If only NYPD could do something about placard abusers clogging the streets.

Tired of Street Cheats stealing public space where you are? Send your photos to tips@streetsblog.org, and follow along as we map NYC placard abuse.

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