More Cars Is Bad, Actually
Brace yourselves for more cars on the streets:
New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission will lift its cap on new licenses for for-hire vehicles, so long as they’re issued to fully electric cars. But traffic experts said it could undermine the MTA’s forthcoming congestion pricing program — Gothamist
This is very bad. City leaders should be doing everything they can to *reduce congestion* and make it easier for people to walk, bike, or take transit. Instead, we're getting more cars.
For-hire vehicles (FHVs) play a huge role in congestion and pollution.
The number of miles traveled by FHVs doubled between 2010 and 2019.
In 2017, FHVs accounted for 20% of all citywide vehicle miles traveled.
Instead of cementing car-dependency, instead, let's make:
Buses more reliable by creating new bus lanes and building true BRT.
Access-A-Ride work for New Yorkers by expanding the on-demand e-hail pilot.
Safer to ride a bike by breaking ground on new protected bike lanes in every neighborhood.
