Comments on: Quinnipiac Releases Transit Poll Results

By: Alex Engel

Alex Engel — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:28:45 +0000

Yes, at the same time you probably live in a part of Brooklyn with good mass transit service. I use mass transit myself, but it’s not entirely feasible for all people in the outer boroughs, as most transit links are to and from Manhattan.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:08:34 +0000

I can’t find it right now. It’s available online, I know, but I don’t remember what its name is.

By: Boris

Boris — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:06:36 +0000

Alon,

Can you provide a link to the report, if it’s available online? I’ve always wanted to learn more about NYC’s “mini-downtowns.” Thanks!

By: Jason B

Jason B — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:56:13 +0000

I doubt they make up this much of a proportion, but it might also be taxi riders. You take a cab over a toll bridge and you have to pay it too.

It’s unfortunate that question 33 didn’t also say that tolls would help pay for the capital programs resulting in service improvements, rehabilitation, and expansion. The question might have been answered differently as well.

By: Jason B

Jason B — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:52:52 +0000

You’re more than correct with the reliability. I live in East Harlem and work in the South Bronx, and usually drive to work daily. On most days, it takes me just under 20 minutes to get to work by car, compared to 40 minutes by train and bus. If I take the train, I can guarantee a 40 minute commute. If I drive, at least a few times a month there’s something that happens along the way; lane closures, garbage trucks, abnormal congestion, etc., and I’m late. Mass transit is so much more reliable.

If you’re wondering though, at the end of the day, I only use my car for work. For anything else, I use mass transit, and even have an unlimited deducted from my paycheck because I use it that often. And I too supported congestion pricing and tolls on East River and Harlem River bridges and was upset not to see it happen.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:36:14 +0000

I’ve read a city report looking at the main non-Manhattan job centers – Downtown Brooklyn, the Hub, LIC, Flushing, Jamaica, and JFK – and showing that in the first five, cars have a modal share of about 50%. For JFK, the modal share is much higher, close to 100%.

Conversely, for people who work in Manhattan, rail has a modal share higher than 80% in both the city proper and its east-of-Hudson suburbs. For people who live in New Jersey the rail modal share is 50% due to inconvenient access from Bergen County and capacity constraints.

By: nowooski

nowooski — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:48:28 +0000

I doubt the 50 percent or so of New Yorkers without a car are really longing for one. I just moved from Detroit, and one of the biggest selling points was the ability to trade my $800/month in car payments, insurance, oil changes and fuel for a $89 metro card. My central Manhattan rent + transportation costs are less than my rent + car in Detroit.

Compared to the rest of the country, getting around NYC is amazingly cheap. They could double metrocard prices and it would still be a steal.

By: JE

JE — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:29:46 +0000

Perhaps some of the opposition to East River tolls has to do with respondents having little faith that the new tolls will actually limit mass transit fare increases?

By: sparky

sparky — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:39:59 +0000

this is just polling skew in an extreme fashion: registered Ds with a land line who will answer questions from a pollster. and if you think of jobs outside the CBD (mid and lower manhattan and maybe downtown brookyln) then having a car makes much more sense.

By: Emilio

Emilio — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:18:54 +0000

Well, incredible as the car response may seem to you, the Census says over 29% of New Yorkers like me drive to work every day.

And yes, I can drive every day to work and also love the subway and hope for East River tolls and all of the congestion pricing.

But honestly, when Robert Moses got a hold of this city, he really scuttled the subway in favor of the car.