February 26, 2009What Does Bloomberg Have Against Driving?

Tough New York City Law Cracks Down on Idling Cars (AP 02.18.09)

Ramped up efforts to combat automotive idling and, by extension, improve air quality around schools throughout the five boroughs will be seen in NYC over the next several years.  While the obvious response to this news is one that acknowledges the benefits of such a crackdown (which are aplenty), I can’t help but wonder if this is just another measure in what appears to be a war that Bloomberg is waging on cars in the city.  While that may have sounded like a loaded comment, I actually really like Bloomberg and think he’s demonstrated extreme competence as Mayor of New York. Nevertheless, this idling initiative together with his grand congestion pricing plan puts me a little on the defensive. While I am a proponent of smart urban planning and I do believe that we should all do what we can to be conscientious about our carbon footprint, I really don’t think private cars are the problem in NYC.  Double- (and sometimes triple-) parked trucks making deliveries, aggressive double-long buses, and irresponsible taxi drivers are worse contributors to New York’s traffic problem (at least in the opinion of this author).  Have you ever driven through the city on Sunday when there are NO parades and NO street fairs?  It’s easy, breezy, beautiful…probably one of my favorite driving experiences.  No trucks, fewer taxis, more infrequent buses.  Think about it.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Yet Another Bloomberg Anti-Car Initiative: Walkways to Replace Car Lanes in Times Square