Sunday, January 5, 2025, it finally happened - almost miraculously, given all the opposition. Today, congestion pricing went into effect in Manhattan below 60th Street, as New York at last caught up with London and other foreign cities in requiring cars to pay for some small share of the damage they cause the environment and the social life of urban spaces. That was, in fact, (according to one eyewitness) written on one of the signs held by some who, despite the cold, turned out to celebrate the event, "THANK YOU FOR PAYING A TINY SHARE OF THE DAMAGE YOUR CAR CAUSES" (see Christopher Bonanos, "It's On" New York Magazine).
From now on - at least until reactionary forces succeed in rolling it back - most cars coming into the designated congestion-pricing zone (Manhattan below 60th Street) will pay a toll (as much as $9.00). For months, cameras have been set up at the 60th Street boundary point (photo), waiting to be turned on, to monitor the traffic - and bill cars for the privilege of using and abusing New York's streets and neighborhoods.
It is but a small victory in the larger war of returning the city and its streets and neighborhoods to their rightful owners - the people. How many drivers will actually change their behavior in response to this financial disincentive remains to be seen. And, as always, there may be unintended and unforeseen consequences. Meanwhile, the incoming President is unsurprisingly opposed to the program. So efforts to undo congestion pricing will likely continue. And like so much of human progress, it may well be rolled back. But, for now at least, cars are at last being charged for at least some of the damage one of the 20th-century's most destructive inventions has so long been imposing on our society with such impunity.
Photo: Entering the congestion-pricing zone at 60th Street and Columbus Avenue.
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