Move Traffic, Don't Tax City
To The Editor:

Congestion pricing is a poor idea, if the purpose is to reduce pollution. If we can get traffic to move now, congestion pricing would be a huge, wasteful, expensive boondoggle.

I have a better idea: enforce the current laws. Do that and traffic will move very well.

1) Don't block the box. If enough traffic cops were at the critical 'boxes', as during Giuliani's days, cars and city buses, the worst offenders, would not block intersections as they do so badly today. One estimate states that some 60 percent of traffic congestion is caused by blocking the box.

2) Limit double parking by trucks. On the north-south avenues, restrict double parking by trucks to the right side, the side used by buses. At present, drivers have to run the gauntlet of trucks double parked on both sides, in the span of just one block, first on the right, then on the left, and back again on the right, or a bus is on the right, unable to get into the bus stop because a privileged car [or truck] is blocking the bus stop. Lexington Avenue is ridiculous. Sometimes there is only one driving lane on this important street.

3) Eliminate privileged parking on cross streets. As a senior citizen over 65, I use the subway most of the time, but when I have to drive in the city occasionally, going crosstown, I see signs which state "No parking 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.". That is a joke. I have yet to see an empty space between 11th and 2nd Avenue, except at a hydrant. Who fills these spaces? None of the cars parked have parking tickets. If trucks could park in spaces that should be empty, crosstown traffic would be a breeze. At present, trucks double park. Then a bus or another truck cannot pass on the narrow street, and cars are backed up, to of course a "Don't block the box", compounding everything. An estimated 30,000 cars enjoy privileged parking. In effect, they park anywhere 24/7 with impunity. Do we need 30,000 exceptions?

4) No exceptions, or else no law. Will everybody pay the $8 for cars and $17 for trucks? Of course not. Politicians [and] critical city employees will be exempt. State and federal employees? News reporters? The TV news trucks? All will be on "official" busi ness. And soon enough, some bleeding heart politician will exempt cars belonging to suffering senior citizens like me. But it would still be wrong. Privilege is corrupting. Simply put, enforce the current laws and traffic will move freely. Don't block the box. Don't double park. No parking 8 a.m.-6 p.m. For everybody. No corruption. Very truly yours, Al Volpe Woodside