How New Yorkers Can Ride For Free: Charge Commuters
Here's some news that should up the [81 percent] of New Yorkers who approve of congestion pricing to a full 100 percent: The results of a $100,000 study by nonprofit group the Institute for Rational Mobility show that if Mayor Bloomberg doubled the congestion pricing fee, we could all enjoy [free subway and bus access](http://www.nysun.com/article/57463). Charging motorists $16 to drive into most of Manhattan at all times and increasing tolls to $16 on all bridge and tunnel crossings could bring in $3.1 billion annually. The MTA currently takes in only about $1.96 billion in subway and bus fares, which means you could ride free and thered be an extra $1.14 billion left over! OK, maybe not exactly. Still, free transit would certainly help the whole [subway-at-capacity](http://www.newyorkpress.com/blogx/display_blog.cfm?bid=39111184) issue. Meanwhile, Bloomy told straphanger-whiners to [get real](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/06/28/2007-06-28_mike_to_riders_get_real.html) yesterday, saying the crowds arent all that badand he should know, Bloomberg takes the Lexington Ave. line most days. So you have to stand up next to people, he said at a Crains New York Business, Get real. This is New York. That it is.
Photo courtesy of [Kriston Lewis on Flickr]