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Living in the US without a car is practically impossible.
Most people rely on their cars to commute to work or run errands across town.
That’s mainly because it’s simply not possible to walk to work due to large distances.
But when it comes to New York, things work a bit differently.
In New York, millions of people buzz around the city daily without actually sitting behind the wheel.
Most New Yorkers use subways, buses, or taxis.
That’s what you also see in movies.
There’s always someone hailing a taxi.
For many residents, driving simply does not make sense.
Of course, some people do own cars, but a large portion of residents prefer to use public transport if possible.
It’s not that New Yorkers have something against cars.
It has more to do with the fact that the city is so busy and crowded that people simply prefer to avoid traffic congestion and the endless search for a parking space.
Plus, the public transport, especially the subway, is a more efficient way of getting around the city, so why even bother driving?
There’s an additional reason for avoiding driving.
And that’s safety.
To learn what exactly we mean by safety, you need to keep reading.
And if you’re a New Yorker, make sure to let us know if you also aren’t a fan of driving.
The Reality of Getting Around New York
Getting from one place to another in NY is not as easy as it might be in other American cities.
Instead of long highways, daily travel usually involves walking a lot of blocks or simply hopping into a bus.
New York is described as one of the worst places for driving, with the average driver wasting more than 100 hours in traffic congestion per year.
Imagine spending 100 hours each year because of traffic delays.
It’d make anyone crazy.
That’s why most try to avoid driving and rely on the subway instead.
The New York City Subway alone carries millions of passengers daily.
On average, the subway has more than 3.6 million weekday riders.
This level of public transportation usage means that many residents simply do not need a car to get where they are going.
In fact, in areas like Manhattan, car ownership rates are significantly lower than the national average.
It’s not only the traffic that people want to avoid, but accidents as well.
With high congestion and traffic volume, accidents are also more likely to happen(and they often do).
Top Reasons That Will Make You Rethink Driving in New York
As we said, apart from the traffic volume, other reasons make New Yorkers leave their cars at home.
There are other concerns that New Yorkers face.
Let’s take a closer look below.
Traffic Congestion Makes Driving Frustrating
One of the biggest reasons people avoid driving in New York is the constant traffic congestion.
This is something we’ve already mentioned.
Streets are filled with delivery trucks, taxis, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Even short trips take much longer than expected and make you anxious.
You go to the supermarket for a quick grocery shopping, and you end up stuck in traffic for hours.
Rush hour usually turns into a slow crawl through crowded streets.
With so many people coming back from work at the same time, the traffic jams are long and extremely frustrating.
In neighborhoods with dense commercial activity, drivers also compete with rideshare vehicles and delivery vans that stop frequently to pick up passengers or unload packages.
Because of this, many residents just use public transportation or simply call a taxi or some other ridesharing service when necessary.
Safety Concerns on Busy Streets
Another big reason why people simply avoid cars is the question of safety.
With so many different vehicles sharing the road, accidents are inevitable.
Add to that the frustration that drivers feel, which makes them drive aggressively, and an accident is sure to happen.
The high traffic volume increases the chances of collisions and other traffic incidents.
In dense areas such as Manhattan, heavy traffic and crowded streets can make accidents more likely.
Even experienced drivers may find the constant activity overwhelming.
Because of these risks, many residents prefer transportation methods that allow them to avoid the challenges of navigating busy streets by car.
New Yorkers who find themselves in a car accident are advised to contact a personal injury lawyer who will take care of the legal processes that ensue.
That means, if you want to be on the winning end of the insurance company negotiations, you’ll need some legal aid.
Parking Is Difficult and Expensive
Another major reason New Yorkers avoid driving is the challenge of finding parking.
This is a problem many people deal with. Space is limited, especially in busy neighborhoods such as Manhattan.
Drivers often spend long periods circling blocks in search of a spot.
Even when parking is available, it doesn’t come at a small price.
Parking garages in central areas charge a lot for daily and hourly rates.
For instance, a monthly fee for parking in Manhattan ranges from $900 to $1200.
Street parking also comes with strict regulations and time limits, meaning you can’t really keep your spot for a long time.
So if you’re running errands downtown, you need to be quick with it.
In places like Manhattan, parking availability is especially limited due to the dense population and high number of businesses.
For many residents, all the stress of finding a parking spot is not even worth owning a car.
The Bottom Line
Driving is a necessity for many, but New Yorkers manage to avoid it successfully.
The heavy traffic in New York makes it impossible to quickly get to your desired location, so it’s no wonder most residents rely on the subway.
Public transportation systems are working well and are more affordable and less nerve-wracking than getting stuck in traffic.
Also, when using public transport, you’re avoiding the likelihood of car accidents, which are, unfortunately, quite common in NY.
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