[crazygringo]

In NYC I can't remember the last time I ever saw a pickup, unless it's an official city/parks maintenance vehicle or something like that.

People simply don't drive them here, at least not in Manhattan or the parts of Brooklyn I know. Contractors seem to all use vans.

(Obviously there must be some, but truly it would be incredibly rare to see.)

I wonder what explains the difference?

[trilbyglens]

Entirely different culture than the american west and south. NYC is just about as far from the country as you can get on the north American continent.

[crazygringo]

Right but so is Toronto. Which makes me curious why pickups are a thing there -- that's the difference I'm wondering about.

[lamontcg]

NYC is a city entirely surrounded by other dense cities and fairly unique in how impractical a large vehicle would be just due to the sheer impossibility of parking it. Looking at a map, I'll bet if you drive out to, say, Monticello you'll find yourself in Truck Territory long before you get there.