[skyfaller]

One problem is that cars take up the space that other transit options need, or alternately, cars themselves are the reason other transit options are unattractive.

For example:

- many people are afraid to ride bicycles because they are (justifiably) afraid of being run over by cars

- separated bike lanes cannot be created because the space is already used for parking spaces for cars

- street level trolleys or buses can move people very efficiently, but when cars block their path, they are slowed to the same pace as the traffic jam

I could go on and on and on. Unless you take back the space used for cars, it is very difficult to make space for anything else.

[paulgb]

The amount of cars in Manhattan also makes walking (which is usually also involved in a transit journey) much worse than it needs to be. I saw this video posted yesterday: https://x.com/philwalkable/status/1773167820487962703?s=46

This is a daily occurrence in some parts of the city. Notice how unfazed everyone is by it, but also how untenable it would be to someone with a wheelchair, walker, stroller, or frankly anyone who isn’t young and thin and nimble.

[mlrtime]

I've done this walk 1000's of times on different crosswalks in NYC, I know exactly where this is.

Every single time I thought to myself I'm about 10lbs of foot pressure away from having my legs broken by a car.

[singhrac]

I've never thought about that until now and I was better off for it... oh well I guess there's some static friction in my favor.

[vel0city]

Isn't being stopped like that a violation? Why aren't people getting massive fines or their driving privileges taken away for driving like this?

[larkfofty]

Technically yes, but sadly in practice rarely enforced. Stand on a street corner in NYC for five minutes and you will see dozens of traffic violations that go unenforced. I don't agree with it, but there is a certain amount of accepted lawlessness here when it comes to driving.

[paulgb]

Technically it is ticketable, but they don’t really have a choice. The traffic often moves at a crawl so they might enter the intersection at the beginning of a light cycle and not get further than the crosswalk. If they decide not to move until there is a car length of free space on the other side, cars behind them will honk up a storm. Ticketing them would effectively just be a stochastic congestion tax anyway.

[vel0city]

> Technically it is ticketable, but they don’t really have a choice.

They absolutely have a choice where their car goes. They've got a gas pedal, a brake pedal, and a steering wheel don't they?

If they can't clear the intersection they have no business entering it.

> If they decide not to move until there is a car length of free space on the other side, cars behind them will honk up a storm.

That's a problem with the car behind them. You shouldn't break the law because someone is honking at you.

> Ticketing them would effectively just be a stochastic congestion tax anyway.

Good.

[asoneth]

I agree we should ticket anyone who is blocking the box and I wish they still enforced those fines/points. But as drivers become increasingly lawless, especially in NYC, being the only person following the law can make you and the people around you less safe. Similar to driving in a developing country, driving safely in NYC requires learning the actual rules of the road which are not the same as the legal rules.

(Personally I avoid driving and biking in midtown these days because I am uncomfortable breaking the law, but when I do have to choose between following the law and operating safely I choose the latter.)

[tetromino_]

> If they can't clear the intersection they have no business entering it.

In heavy urban traffic, it is impossible to know if you can clear the intersection before entering it. You can often predict it with some degree of accuracy, but only if you are already familiar with this particular intersection; forget about out of towners being able to make that judgment.

[ClumsyPilot]

Or not 5 ft tall

Look at the height of the hood of that car, the driver would not even see a teenager trying to cross