Almost every New Yorker and anyone who has ever visited will encourage you not to drive in New York City. Whether you are a resident or you are just going there for a short visit, you are probably aware that taking a car is not the fastest solution to get around in New York City.
Once you're in the city, most people find that they don't need a car, because you can easily take taxis or the subway to get where you're going. New Yorkers most often choose from a variety of available transportation options including regional rail lines, the 24/7 metropolitan subway and bus system, ferries, cycling, and walking.
Coined in New York City, the term gridlock means traffic congestion that blocks a city’s network of intersections and has been used to describe the Manhattan core’s overwhelming traffic volume in general. NYC DOT designates the busiest traffic days of the year as Gridlock Alert Days. Whether traveling for work, errands or recreation, please consider walking, biking or taking public transportation whenever possible.
Parking Is A Challenge!
Plus, the cost of parking your car adds up quickly, especially if you'll be visiting for several days. website like NYC Best Parking or ParkWhiz to research your parking options before you leave and find the most affordable garage close to where you need to go.
When you see an empty block, there is often a good reason that people aren't parked there. Whether it's street cleaning or a loading zone, street parking in New York City is at a premium, so it's rare to see many spots available. It's way cheaper to pay for parking in a lot, even if it's overpriced, than to risk getting your car towed to a secure lot.
The use of a hand-held device, whether talking or texting, while driving is illegal and you could be fined if caught.
Bridge tolls in New York City are ubiquitous and expensive, especially when crossing between New Jersey and New York. Some bridges, like the Brooklyn, Williamsburg, and Manhattan, are toll-free.
Driving Tips
1. Drive Slowly Around NYC
2. You Can’t Make a Right Turn on Red
3. Watch out for Bikes and Pedestrians
4. Every Hour Is Rush Hour, Take It or Leave It
5. The Number of Parking Spots Is Insufficient
Navigating Manhattan
1. All avenues run north and south, while streets run east and west.
2. As you are going north through Manhattan, the street numbers will get higher.
3. One-way streets that go east to west are not numbered properly.
4. Streets that go from east to west are evenly numbered in the majority of cases. |
