Promised freedom behind the wheel, city drivers in New York City are instead constrained, embattled, aggrieved, desperate, and defiant. The pandemic has laid bare what we've faced on our streets for far too long - from awful events like loud guerrilla car meet-ups to banalities like Upper West Siders' accelerating parking woes.

In the past, politicians have touted a plethora of solutions to ease gridlock, including bikes, boats, buses, scooters, trolleys, trains, and more. However, despite these initiatives, New York City remains dependent on public transit while plagued by congestion caused by millions of cars, choking exhaust, hundreds of annual traffic crash deaths, and the nation's slowest bus service.

Unlike other cities with generic car cultures, New York's situation is unique and contingent on density and the whims of Robert Moses and his successors. The city doesn't have a one-size-fits-all approach to car culture; instead, it requires a bespoke solution that addresses its specific challenges.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio, looking back on his time in office, declared that for years, they had been trying to undo the car culture. While he identified the problem as being ingrained, he never described its nature, making it tough to solve. Council Speaker Corey Johnson was more blunt, stating that we need to break the car culture in this city. Comptroller Scott Stringer agreed, emphasizing that you can't bend the car culture.

In the past, city leaders have pledged to wean New Yorkers off driving, but so far, there are no carrots or sticks to make it happen - only thoughts and prayers. The costs of driving, including the lack of space on our streets, cannot be ignored.

As we move forward, we can expect 10 more 'Gridlock Alert Days' in the coming weeks, when policymakers will plead with drivers to leave their cars at home. It's time for New York City to take a fresh approach to addressing its gridlock issues and create a more sustainable future for its residents.

Nyc gridlock november 22