Last Updated on September 18, 2023 by Lawrence Berezin
NYC on-street parking is rapidly losing habitat
I asked Google’s Generative AI how long it took to find a vacant on-street parking space in NYC. Can you guess the answer?
It takes about 15 minutes to find a vacant on-street parking space in New York City. However, drivers in New York City spend an average of 107 hours a year looking for parking spots.
The parking situation in New York City can be a gamble. Often, there are no free spaces, which can leave drivers driving in circles for hours.
Google’s Generative AI
Meanwhile, the number of parking spaces is decreasing, while the number of invasive species is increasing due to the following:
- Car share programs
- Citi Bike programs
- Bike Lanes
- Taxi Stands
- Bus Lanes
- Out-Door Restaurant Dining
To name just a few.
So, what’s a frustrated driver to do?
NYC on-street parking and car population stats
NYC’s population: 8,804,190 (2021)
Households: 3,250,657
Households with cars 1,462,795 (45%)
Parking spaces: 5,375,672.
NYC on-street parking spaces: 2,989,413
FREE on-street parking spaces: 2,899,730 (97%)
Stats and more stats
Car ownership is lowest in Manhattan, where only 22 percent of households own a car, while ownership is highest in Staten Island, where cars are owned by 83 percent of all households.
Queens (62 percent) is also above the city average, while the Bronx (40 percent) and Brooklyn (44 percent) look more like the city as a whole.
While almost half the households in the city own cars, fewer people use them to commute. Of the 3.8 million workers in the city, only 27 percent commute via car, truck, or van. Staten Island is the only borough where the majority of commuters (64 percent) drive, while only 8 percent of Manhattanites drive to work.
Staten Island is also the only borough where more commuters drive than take the subway, but it’s close to Queens. In Queens, even 38 percent of people drive to work, but 38.2 percent take the subway—a difference of under 3,000 people.
Spotlight on the NYC Car Share Program
The latest shiny object that will lower the motor vehicle population in NYC is sharing cars. Here’s a press release from the DOT:
New York – New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the expansion of its citywide curbside carshare program to increase access to convenient carshare, after a successful 5-year pilot has proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and personal car ownership. Over the next two weeks, DOT will install new signage to demarcate the first 80 new, dedicated curbside parking spaces for carshare service across Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens, with an explicit focus on equitable access.
DOT’s ambitious program goal for 2023 is to supplement the current 230 on-street parking spaces with several hundred more, working with the three carshare companies – Zipcar, Getaround, and Truqit – to deploy their shared vehicles at new locations.
“We now have the proof that convenient access to carshare frees New Yorkers from the burden of car ownership – while helping to fight climate change. Soon more New Yorkers will have access to a vehicle when required – no need to sign an expensive lease or to fret about finding a parking space,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “With thanks to the Mayor for his support, we are excited to build on the successes of our pilot, cutting down greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled, while supporting efficient use of space at the curb. We encourage New Yorkers to give this great program a try!”
“Getaround and the New York City DOT have a mutual goal of reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and providing equitable transportation options for community members. Our participation in the carshare program will provide instant access to on-demand and affordable cars that will serve as a complement to other transportation modes in the city,” said Sy Fahimi, COO of Getaround. “We look forward to expanding access to shared mobility, as Getaround continues its mission to empower people to carshare everywhere.”
NYC DOT Press release
Drip, drip, drip
It may not sound like many parking spaces, but wouldn’t you like one of those 230 spaces while circumnavigating the neighborhood at 6 p.m.? Of course, you would.
Bus lanes, bike lanes, and bowling lanes
NYC math: Add lanes and subtract parking spaces. Here’s the bike lane story in NYC:
As of 2022, New York City has 1,525 miles of bike lanes. This includes 126 miles of protected lanes, which have physical barriers separating cyclists from motor vehicles.
The city has built over 479 miles of bike lanes since 2014. One of the most heavily used Class I bike lanes is the Hudson River Greenway, which is segregated from pedestrians. Other popular cycling destinations include Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway.
On a typical day, there are over 550,000 cycling trips made across the city. This is a 121 percent increase since 2009.
Google’s Generative AI
FREE Download
Larry’s Driveway Guide
Here is one of Larry’s all-time favorite cheat sheets. You’ll learn:
- The NYC Traffic Rule, 4-08(f)(2)
- The definition of a “driveway”
- The NY State Law stating how to remove a driveway blocker
- Five Driveway Mistakes That Spell Disaster
- A fascinating list of the ten most blocked driveways in NYC
- And much more…
Growing
How about bus lanes?
Here’s what Google Generative AI says:
New York City has 138.4 miles of bus lanes, which is 2.3% of the city’s 6,074 miles of roads. The city also has 23 miles of high occupancy vehicle lanes on highways that accommodate buses.
The city’s Streets Plan requires the construction of 20 miles of camera-protected bus lanes in 2022, and 30 miles in each of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. Mayor Adams has promised at least 150 miles of new bus lanes by the end of his term in 2025.
Commentary
Wow. And I gave away my old Schwinn.
What’s a driver to do?
Most importantly, take action and fight for your parking space. Don’t let these invasive species have their way with NY City Hall. Likewise, communicate with your councilperson and let them know that you’re mad as hell and not going to take this one-way parking ticket to extinction.
Remember, a voice connected with a vote is a powerful weapon.
Use it!
Still over 2M cars registered in NYC, 88% of them in the middle-class outer boroughs.
NYC vehicle ownership stats (pdf) – http://u.pc.cd/jf8
NYC vehicle registrations –
Boro | Vehicles | % of NYC Total
BX | 294,069 | 13.12%
BK | 557,131 | 24.86%
MN | 256,630 | 11.45%
QN | 847,495 | 37.81%
SI | 286,096 | 12.76%
(Outer Boros only | 1,984,791 | 88.55%)
NYC TOT | 2,241,421 | 100.0%
Thanks for the additional data, Dan. Very helpful!
Regards,
Larry
They say carshare frees New Yorkers from the burden of car ownership. I’d like to know how many car share users have sold their personal car or decided not to buy a car because of this program. More likely it is that they choose to use a car share rather than taking mass transit. Also, they probably just use it to for day trips, etc.
I agree.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Joe.
Regards,
Larry
Hi Larry,
Thx for giving us all this news. What about sharing it on Patch?
I’m disabled and have a handicapped NYC parking permit. The permit department is now making it almost impossible to be re- certified and have now limited permits to only people who can’t walk at all! A person can be disabled and not look it and furthermore they can be very limited in their ability to walk because of disease or injuries.
I have a multitude of diseases and have been on ssd since 1980 and Medicare. I’m now 76 yrs. old and no one could ever relate to what happened to me and how it destroyed my life and career in every way. I have atleast 6 or more diseases and furthermore suffer from stiff person syndrome, the same crippling disease that put Celine Dion in a wheelchair. This is a very rare disease and is listed on the National Organization Rare Disease website. Although I’m able to walk short distances, it’s unknown, when I can get an attack, stiffen up and suffer terrible nerve pain, which can happen anywhere in the body. I go for very specialized treatment in Long Island and Queens. I thank god that this alternative therapy Is available, which was invented in Germany. It actually found the disease before the doctors. If not for this treatment, I, too, would be in a wheelchair. I also go for treatment on my back, which is what crippled me in 1980 and was caused by doctors. I have to pay for these treatments out of my own pocket. My permit is my lifeline and without it and a place to park, I will die!
It’s despicable what is being done to disabled people and even the public. I’m prepared to blast the city on the war on cars. Would you help me? By the way,
my friend was run over by a bike and suffered a broken leg. The cyclist took off and my friend had to pay using her health plan for her operation. She has a plate in her leg and suffers terribly from PTSD: she will not go near a bike lane. Of course, the public won’t hear about this on the news. Many people can’t ride a bike and I know that the average New Yorker detests these bike lanes. They have made traffic worse not better! I can be reached at 212 628-3967 or 917 363-0799. Sincerely, Carol Shusterman
Hi Carol,
I am so sorry to hear about the upheaval these horrible diseases have caused you. What’s worse is the unwarranted obstalcles NYC puts in your path. I don’t understand why is has to be so difficult to get your PPPD permit, which you clearly deserve.
I admire your courage and thank you for sharing your challenges.
Regards,
Larry
Its difficult to argue with someone who has a strong opinion, but when the person has an agenda with a holier-than-thou attitude it is a losing battle. The agenda-driven activists aren’t for bike lanes, bus lanes, or against parking spaces. They are against cars period. Many of these activists are single and perhaps have a partner and a pet. They work at home or live in Manhattan or are on the city council and can take a train, bus, or bike to their job or school. Do they understand or even care that there are those who have families where a car is more than just a convenience? Do they care that there are those who must commute to work? I could about the phony vision zero policy which never reaches out to distracted walkers. I could talk about how the term accident is replaced by car violence and irresponsible drivers, but the activists never give information on how or when the “accident” happened. I could talk about the cameras that are now on 24/7. Yes in some places it’s needed but in the vast majority of NYC you don’t need a camera at 3 am except to nickel and dime us. It’s no wonder my grown children want to get out of NYC ASAP.
I agree with you Tee. In addition, the elderly and disabled are scared to death of the bike lanes. Also, they’re trying to get rid of people who have handicaps permits and need to use their cars to get around. These permits haven’t been easy to get in the past and now they’re making it almost impossible.
All those miles & miles of bike lanes & yet more bikes (e-bikes included) than ever on sidewalks. They’re a danger!!
Thanks for sharing your valuable comment, GM.
Regards,
Larry
I agree with you Tee. In addition, the elderly and disabled are scared to death of the bike lanes. Also, they’re trying to get rid of people who have handicaps permits and need to use their cars to get around. These permits haven’t been easy to get in the past and now they’re making it almost impossible.