In most cities I would agree, but NYC has the best transit in the country by a huge margin. Genuine question: are there lots of people in NYC and surrounding area who must drive into the city for work and don't have convenient alternatives available? This would be true in most places in the US but I'm not sure about NY.
Of course, your underlying point is still valid that the effects of such a tax will not be felt equally across class lines, and that is not ideal in my opinion either.
Genuine answer as a former New Yorker: No. You can get in and out more easily by transit than by car already. It's a luxury. Driving in Manhattan is already expensive many ways anyhow
- bridge/tunnel tolls to enter any way other than from the Bronx along slow inconvenient local streets
- parking costs a lot of money, or a lot of time and hassle (and in fact is prohibitive, like as in you won't find free parking even after circling for an hour, in much of manhattan for much of the day)
- if you're an average american driver from the suburbs or further afield, who is not used to big city driving, you will probably find it very stressful until you practice a lot
- opportunity cost: transit is already great, so there's no compelling reason usually
But, it is great _compared_ to driving, in terms of point A to point B on time performance, other than very late at night, which is the only time you can get around faster in a car (but will likely still struggle with parking)
> are there lots of people in NYC and surrounding area who must drive into the city for work and don't have convenient alternatives available?
Yes. Many poor people (think teachers, healthcare workers, services workers) have been priced out of living in areas that are commutable by MTA. You're looking at driving in or a 2-3 hour commute. People who think NYC's mass trans is 'the best in the U.S.' already live in Manhattan/close-in Brooklyn.
Don't get me wrong, it's great – if you're already paying $40k/year in rent anyway.
Of course, your underlying point is still valid that the effects of such a tax will not be felt equally across class lines, and that is not ideal in my opinion either.