Do you drive in NYC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not drive in Manhattan. I live in Manhattan. Walking works. Bus and subway work… with credit cards. Uber, Lyft, and Taxi all work. Taxis take credit cards, too, but often prefer/ pretend not to. Even a car service hired for the day can work.

The delivery bikes and motorized cycles, scooters, Amazon vehicles, and pedestrians are hazardous to drivers and pedestrians

Lolz. Come on, dude. Why do you hang around these NYC threads, claiming to live here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol OP. You need to not drive in NYC. Take the metro.

Dude, why are you responding? You’re not from nyc

I’m not the PP but lived in NyC for 15 years and this is the correct answer. Take a cab or an uber or the subway. Even rich people take the subway in NyC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol OP. You need to not drive in NYC. Take the metro.

Dude, why are you responding? You’re not from nyc

I’m not the PP but lived in NyC for 15 years and this is the correct answer. Take a cab or an uber or the subway. Even rich people take the subway in NyC.

Obviously. No one who lives here doesn’t know that. There is zero reason to state this. It’s like informing someone that water is wet. Got it, thanks for the tip that cabs take credit cards.

But obviously there may be times that one has a car here if you live here full time. A lot of people keep cars to leave the city, or keep cars outside the city, but have reason to drive in with them occasionally.

So yes, it’s obvious that these responders are not locals, and it’s tiring to deal with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If so, any tips for dealing with the onslaught of bikes and pedestrians who insist on darting in front and around you?

Today I was driving around looking for a parking spot, and then backing into a spot, and several people walked right into my path, including as I was backing in. One woman had a little girl with her. WTF. It’s a moving vehicle and I’m distracted as I’m backing in.

Pay closer attention? If you're too distracted to drive safely, given that you know that there are pedestrians and cyclists around at all times, you shouldn't be driving.

Also, you are so distracted that you can't see people who enter your path?

Yeah, apparently you’re not from here. I’m obviously paying attention, but I’m also looking at road signs, other cars, other pedestrians, bicycles, etc and people are walking into my path against traffic etc. When someone is actively backing up into a spot in the middle of the street, would you dart into that space to get to the other side of the street? Or would you cross at a cross walk?

People obviously behave erratically and as the driver you have to deal with it. If you can't, don't drive in NYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If so, any tips for dealing with the onslaught of bikes and pedestrians who insist on darting in front and around you?

Today I was driving around looking for a parking spot, and then backing into a spot, and several people walked right into my path, including as I was backing in. One woman had a little girl with her. WTF. It’s a moving vehicle and I’m distracted as I’m backing in.

Pay closer attention? If you're too distracted to drive safely, given that you know that there are pedestrians and cyclists around at all times, you shouldn't be driving.

Also, you are so distracted that you can't see people who enter your path?

Yeah, apparently you’re not from here. I’m obviously paying attention, but I’m also looking at road signs, other cars, other pedestrians, bicycles, etc and people are walking into my path against traffic etc. When someone is actively backing up into a spot in the middle of the street, would you dart into that space to get to the other side of the street? Or would you cross at a cross walk?

People obviously behave erratically and as the driver you have to deal with it. If you can't, don't drive in NYC.

Are you upset that I’m calling out your obvious trolling?

Thanks for the hot tip, troll. Next will you remind me that I should take the ‘metro’ and they even take credit cards ?? lol

[Anonymous]

I drive into and out of NYC on occasion as a more flexible, potentially cheaper alternative to flying or taking the train there and it's not impossible--like other cities just bigger. Parking is just really expensive, is the main thing, and once inside the city the subway/walking/uber etc. is the best/fastest/cheapest way to get around because of the traffic congestion and population density.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol OP. You need to not drive in NYC. Take the metro.

Dude, why are you responding? You’re not from nyc

I spent years as a pedestrian in NYC. if OP cannot handle pedestrians then OP should not be driving in NYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If so, any tips for dealing with the onslaught of bikes and pedestrians who insist on darting in front and around you?

Today I was driving around looking for a parking spot, and then backing into a spot, and several people walked right into my path, including as I was backing in. One woman had a little girl with her. WTF. It’s a moving vehicle and I’m distracted as I’m backing in.

Pay closer attention? If you're too distracted to drive safely, given that you know that there are pedestrians and cyclists around at all times, you shouldn't be driving.

Also, you are so distracted that you can't see people who enter your path?

Yeah, apparently you’re not from here. I’m obviously paying attention, but I’m also looking at road signs, other cars, other pedestrians, bicycles, etc and people are walking into my path against traffic etc. When someone is actively backing up into a spot in the middle of the street, would you dart into that space to get to the other side of the street? Or would you cross at a cross walk?

Lolol. How long have you lived in NYC for OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol OP. You need to not drive in NYC. Take the metro.

Dude, why are you responding? You’re not from nyc

I’m not the PP but lived in NyC for 15 years and this is the correct answer. Take a cab or an uber or the subway. Even rich people take the subway in NyC.

+1. Rich people also bike these days! Shocking I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. You just have to be really diligent.

And just adding that the way some of the bike lanes are set up can make turns a little tricky. Amsterdam Ave comes to mind . . . if you're making a left turn, you have to remember that the bike lane on your left and also has a green light and you have to ensure that you're not turning into an oncoming bike. You are supposed to yield to them as well as pedestrians in the crosswalk, which puts an extra onus on you to pay close attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If so, any tips for dealing with the onslaught of bikes and pedestrians who insist on darting in front and around you?

Today I was driving around looking for a parking spot, and then backing into a spot, and several people walked right into my path, including as I was backing in. One woman had a little girl with her. WTF. It’s a moving vehicle and I’m distracted as I’m backing in.

Pay closer attention? If you're too distracted to drive safely, given that you know that there are pedestrians and cyclists around at all times, you shouldn't be driving.

Also, you are so distracted that you can't see people who enter your path?

Yeah, apparently you’re not from here. I’m obviously paying attention, but I’m also looking at road signs, other cars, other pedestrians, bicycles, etc and people are walking into my path against traffic etc. When someone is actively backing up into a spot in the middle of the street, would you dart into that space to get to the other side of the street? Or would you cross at a cross walk?

Lolol. How long have you lived in NYC for OP?

25 years. And you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. You just have to be really diligent.

And just adding that the way some of the bike lanes are set up can make turns a little tricky. Amsterdam Ave comes to mind . . . if you're making a left turn, you have to remember that the bike lane on your left and also has a green light and you have to ensure that you're not turning into an oncoming bike. You are supposed to yield to them as well as pedestrians in the crosswalk, which puts an extra onus on you to pay close attention.

Bike lanes are tough! I support bikes of course and I use citibikes myself, but the lanes are a challenge both as a biker and as a driver. Just yesterday, I was on an E-bike in SoHo and caught in a turn lane squeeze similar to what you described, and then the light turned so I had people coming at me from the other side too.

As far as being a driver, it’s mostly fine whenever everyone follows the rules, but as I’m sure you know, pedestrians are constantly darting out from between parked cars, most bicyclists don’t follow traffic rules, etc.

Of course I try not to drive normally- who would?- but I need to have my car this week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have horns been removed from cars? Someone walks into the space you're trying to park in- honk the horn to make them aware? A bike is swerving or there's possibility of collision? A little toot of the horn to communicate? Have you not been to NYC? It's a constant cacophony of horns FOR THIS REASON.

This isn’t accurate

[Anonymous]

^ meant the constant cacophony. Unless you happen to live by a bridge entry point, and even then there are typically cops there and people don’t honk much

[Anonymous]

I drive. Have for 20 years plus in nyc

I dont like the bike lanes. I'm pro bike lane, but the two ways the city seems to do them either parked cars / bike lane / cars or bike lane/ parked cars / cars make taking a left or right with the light very hard. I feel like I could hit a bike who is not aware. I'm super aware which means slowing down in a non-turn lane which is also dangerous.

I honestly wish we'd have fewer/better bike lanes. I'd give up an entire major street to do all bike lanes if I could (and get rid of other bike lanes). Make broadway or 3rd avenue all bikes half north bound/half south bound. I'd bike!