> Driving into NYC is already a massively expensive pain in the ass and nobody does it for shits and giggles.
Plenty of rich people drive into the city because they don’t want to take public transit. I know some!
> think doorman who needs to be at work 5 am and lives in outer queens
I don’t doubt there will be people like this but the data shows that car owners are notably richer than the average NYC resident. The working poor of NYC by and large do not own cars. And among those that do own cars the number that drive into Manhattan daily for work is already small (because how could they afford to park? How does this doorman?)
And to take your example specifically, I have to imagine there are alternatives. Like driving to parking near Manhattan then jumping on the subway for the last part. If they aren’t doing it already parking garages will be even more incentivised by congestion charging.
You are making the same point I am without realizing.
For the rich, it's a negligible expense. For the poor, it's a major inconvenience (scenario you described) or cost.
So mainly the city expects it'll get free money out of the people who will still drive in. The only folks who will contribute to decreased congestion are the ones for whom $15/d is meaningful.
I think there’s much more of a sliding scale than that. Yes, there are very rich people who will drive no matter what. And there are a very small number of poor people who won’t drive no matter what. But in the middle sit a large number of people who are much more likely to use park and ride schemes and the like.
Good news is the city wins either way: if people still drive, city gets money. If people don’t drive, city has reduced congestion.
Plenty of rich people drive into the city because they don’t want to take public transit. I know some!
> think doorman who needs to be at work 5 am and lives in outer queens
I don’t doubt there will be people like this but the data shows that car owners are notably richer than the average NYC resident. The working poor of NYC by and large do not own cars. And among those that do own cars the number that drive into Manhattan daily for work is already small (because how could they afford to park? How does this doorman?)
And to take your example specifically, I have to imagine there are alternatives. Like driving to parking near Manhattan then jumping on the subway for the last part. If they aren’t doing it already parking garages will be even more incentivised by congestion charging.