Driving In New York Traffic

By Kristen Baird


Driving conditions will vary depending on what type of city one is traveling through as well as its region and how well it was planned. While smaller cities tend to be easy to navigate, some of the larger ones are famous for their difficulty. In the U. S., New York traffic is considered to be the worst, outdone only by that of Los Angeles.

When most people are asked for their opinion about driving in the city and its boroughs, they will generally advise that anyone who is not extremely familiar with the streets stick to public transportation. The subway is by far the quickest way to make any distance, followed by the buses and cabs. When going just a few blocks, many even suggest that walking or biking could be faster than taking a car.

Navigating this city will also take a bit of finesse and a great deal of confidence. There is very little opportunity to switch lanes to make a last minute turn and courtesy is virtually unheard of. Those who traverse these streets on a daily basis often show no patience for those who are unfamiliar with where they are going or who try to do something that disrupts the flow.

A slow, barely moving crawl would be a more accurate description than a flow. During the work day, 16mph is the average speed though at certain peak times it will drop to about 6mph. Congestion is just something most people plan for.

Multiple factors contribute to the frequent jams and occasional gridlock that occurs in the streets of the big apple. First of all, the city is a leading business metropolis filled with corporate headquarters, leading fashion houses, premier shopping and exquisite dining, not to mention Wall Street and the United Nations. The second big issue is that many areas are only accessible through the limited number of bridges and tunnels leading into and out of them.

Downtown parking is somewhat of a nightmare for anyone who is not used to it or who does not have an assigned slot. The fees for the garages are quite high and the few parallel spaces available are hard to utilize due to the congestion. If one is determined to do their own driving in the city, they should plan to spend time seeking out a suitable place.

Cyclists are a common feature on the streets as more people find that for traveling the distance of a few city blocks, it is not only a healthier option, but a much quicker one. Although there are dedicated bicycle lanes, they are viewed more of a guideline instead of a rule. This is primarily because they are often used as parking spaces which forces the bikes either onto the sidewalk or weaving between the crawling vehicles.

Many radio stations provide up to the minute reports on which areas to avoid and there are televised channels and websites available for people to view the live feed from street cameras. There are certain days that are far less congested than others, mainly because many of the corporate business offices are closed. Before traveling, one should check to see if any celebrations or events like parades, fleet week or marathons, are scheduled.




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