this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2025
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Fuck Cars

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[–] Roopappy@lemmy.world 6 points 3 hours ago

Driving in Manhattan is for truck deliveries and taxis only.

If you try to drive a car from point to point in Manhattan, you're an asshole.

[–] Rhoeri@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago
[–] Kcs8v6@lemmy.world 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

What I've read says that you aren't charged unless you cross the boundary. If you reside inside the zone and never leave and enter again, you won't be charged a toll.

[–] frayedpickles@lemmy.cafe 2 points 2 hours ago

Even better, he's north of the boundary. It ends at 60th st.

[–] just_an_average_joe@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Congestion fees are a very capitalist way of solving it. This law basically exists for everyone except rich people (i,e. Those who can afford to pay fees).

All this is based on a false assumption that money has an objective value. But in reality, 1$ means different things for different classes.

[–] Zetta@mander.xyz 9 points 4 hours ago

Yes but the money goes 100% to public transit so it benefits the lower income public transport commuters too.

[–] coriza@lemmy.world 11 points 5 hours ago

I mean, you are right and the fee should be proportional to wealth, but it is not gonna affect the poor people because they use the public transit. Maybe anywhere else in the US may be true that "even the homeless need/have a car" but NYC would be the exception.

[–] buzz86us@lemmy.world 23 points 21 hours ago

Awww he might have to go on the big scary subway and desk with the poors.. A sad day indeed

[–] boonhet@lemm.ee 12 points 20 hours ago (3 children)

Love how this is in the one US city where you need a car the least as far as I know. You've got the subway, the sidewalks, cabs... I mean sure, the latter exists in the form of ride sharing apps basically everywhere now, but NYC had cabs even in old movies. Though I suspect most other cities of any real size had them as well

[–] Madison420@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago

I dunno about NYC but Chicago has a pretty large and diverse public transit system.

That said the first bus I got onto in Chicago clearly hit a parked car that was too far over the line and the driver just sorta shrugged and kept on truckin'.

[–] MrsDoyle@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 hours ago

There are buses too. Last time I visited NYC I used buses all the time. They were clean, frequent, cheap, and I had great conversations with other passengers. 10/10.

[–] roguetrick@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago

The cabs actually get a surcharge for the congestion pricing but who cares.

[–] leadore@lemmy.world 23 points 23 hours ago (3 children)

His kids live on 79th street and he will have to pay congestion price every time he goes to see them.

So like, what, Christmas and their birthdays?

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[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 205 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I looked on the map. That overlooks Central Park.

If your home overlooks Central Park, I'm pretty sure you can afford a congestion charge.

[–] GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world 79 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Some of the most frugal, penny pitching people I know are also some of the wealthiest people I know.

[–] Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

Then he can walk.

[–] ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net 36 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yep. I work in tech and there's a guy who cannot stop bragging about his millionaire status and is so ridiculously cheap.

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 3 points 11 hours ago

You know he's got exactly $1,000,001 too.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 19 hours ago

A good reason to feel sorry for his kids.

[–] piecat@lemmy.world 35 points 1 day ago

Just take the 6 like 2 stops you absolute donkey

[–] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 139 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Isn't the point of the congestion fee to relieve congestion? Each person that says "this fee is stupid & I'm not paying" is one less vehicle in the area.

Sounds like a win.

[–] Humanius@lemmy.world 55 points 1 day ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

That is indeed the goal, but there is still a PR battle to be had on the issue.

To my knowledge this is the first time that congestion pricing has been implemented in North-America, and how people react to this will decide whether other North-American cities are willing to take the risk and do the same thing. Over the next couple of months there will likely be a lot of opinion pieces and articles that try to make you think that the congestion pricing is a failure and should be reversed.

Edit: typo

[–] Threeme2189@sh.itjust.works 5 points 22 hours ago

I hope they don't react the same way they did when roundabouts (rotaries/traffic circles) were introduced. Another thing that is only a problem in America and works well in many other countries.

[–] bamboo@lemmy.blahaj.zone 173 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

The congestion zone starts at 60th Street and heads south, so traveling from 61st - 79th street won't even encounter the congestion pricing. This guy is dumb on so many levels.

EDIT: I just looked it up on a map and 61st is a one way going west towards Central Park, so if you enter 61st from Madison Ave, you're forced to exit at 5th Ave and go south entering the zone, which I guess is this guy's problem?. I also looked up the guy and he's a CEO Real Estate developer, so he's living in a multi-million dollar place right next to Central Park and can't afford to pay $9 because his private parking spot in his building forces him to drive into the congestion pricing zone. Come on!

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 21 points 22 hours ago

Wait, it's 9 dollars?

Oh my God. I thought it was cheap. This poor bastard, does he have a GoFundMe I can donate to? This is highway robbery, it's going to drive him straight to the poor house or worse the public transportation system!

[–] thessnake03@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago

Maybe he's a shady CEO scared his shit business practices will get him capped so he avoids all public transit.

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 33 points 1 day ago

Another case of the big bad gubberment hurting the little guy!

[–] Vorticity@lemmy.world 94 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I was wondering if there was more to the story. Like, maybe he has a disability and NYC doesn't have an exemption for disabilities. They do, however, have an exemption for disabilities as well as a reduced rate for low income residents. To me it sounds like this guy is just lazy.

Looking at this on Google Maps, he can get anywhere on 76th St using one bus or subway ride and a 5-10 minute walk.

Zero sympathy.

[–] nandeEbisu@lemmy.world 41 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Wow, I can't believe you'd suggest subjecting this poor man to something as horrible as being forced to use a public bus.

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 39 points 1 day ago (2 children)

"Ahh, the old number 22. Clean, reliable public transportation. The chariot of the people. The ride of choice for the poor and very poor alike!"

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[–] DaddleDew@lemmy.world 209 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Dude: "I wish traffic in my area wasn't so bad"

Genie: "Ok, people driving in your area will be financially penalized for using their car instead of public transit, therefore alleviating traffic."

Dude: "hey wait, I want an exception made for me! I am special. I am the main character, I should be the only one driving a car!"

Genie: "That was your third wish. Goodbye."

[–] Not_mikey@slrpnk.net 79 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Imagine if we got this sort of coverage whenever someone was inconvenienced by public transit being cut, or a bike lane being blocked, or fares being raised.

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[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 76 points 1 day ago (9 children)

Isn't that less than two miles away?

I suppose he could also have to travel down 79th a bit, but Manhattan is only about 2 miles wide anyway, right? So like...worst case scenario, a four mile walk.

Okay. That would be a significant walk. Probably an hour or two. But in NYC, how likely is it that you can get to your car, travel to your destination four miles away, find parking, and then walk to your destination (1) in less than an hour, and (2) for less than $9?

Get a bike, bro. Or hey, I hear New York has this fancy new doohickey called a "subway."

[–] hushable@lemmy.world 7 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

Isn’t that less than two miles away?

I have a coworker who lives less than two kilometers from work and he complained that our workplace doesn't have enough parking spots. There is a bus stop right in front of our building and two bus routes connecting to his neighbourhood, yet he refuses to ever take the bus

[–] Nester@feddit.uk 60 points 1 day ago (9 children)

It's about a 24 minute walk or a 17 minute journey by bus

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[–] SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world 32 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Dude is complaining because even though he just lives out side of the zone he still has to pay the fee even when he travels north to 79th which is also outside zone. That area is all one way streets and if he wants to go north he has to travel south first into the zone and then he can turn around and drive to 79th. Though I have zero sympathy if you can afford to live right next to Central Park you can afford to pay the fee hundreds of times per week.

[–] frayedpickles@lemmy.cafe 1 points 2 hours ago

Yeah he could also walk like 1 block north.

[–] DirkMcCallahan@lemmy.world 63 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I drove once in NYC. Never again. I'd gladly walk 3x that distance to avoid having to use a car. Or, ya know, use (gasp) public transportation.

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