Things such as planning, region and function will greatly effect the driving conditions within its limits. Most cities do not pose much difficulty at all but several of the larger metropolises have a number of serious issues. With the exception of Los Angeles, New York traffic is commonly voted the worst in the United States.
When most people are asked for their opinion about driving in the city and its boroughs, they will generally advise that anyone who is not extremely familiar with the streets stick to public transportation. The subway is by far the quickest way to make any distance, followed by the buses and cabs. When going just a few blocks, many even suggest that walking or biking could be faster than taking a car.
A lot of confidence and some finesse will be required to navigate this city. Switching lanes is not easily done, so one must be aware of where they need to turn and adjust as early as possible. The regulars on the road tend to show no compassion or patience for newcomers who are unfamiliar with the grid and may react aggressively when something happens to disturb the flow.
What the regulars consider the flow is actually a rather slow crawl compared to the national average. The average between 7am and 7pm is about 16mph, though it has moments when it drops down as low as 6mph. Congestion is the norm.
Multiple factors contribute to the frequent jams and occasional gridlock that occurs in the streets of the big apple. First of all, the city is a leading business metropolis filled with corporate headquarters, leading fashion houses, premier shopping and exquisite dining, not to mention Wall Street and the United Nations. The second big issue is that many areas are only accessible through the limited number of bridges and tunnels leading into and out of them.
One must be quite brave to attempt parking in the downtown area. There are plenty of garages available, though their fees can be quite high depending on which block they are located and finding a parallel space during the peak hours is both hazardous and difficult. Those driving personal vehicles should be prepared to spend a lot of time searching a spot or be ready to pay the cost for an enclosed structure.
Cyclists are a common feature on the streets as more people find that for traveling the distance of a few city blocks, it is not only a healthier option, but a much quicker one. Although there are dedicated bicycle lanes, they are viewed more of a guideline instead of a rule. This is primarily because they are often used as parking spaces which forces the bikes either onto the sidewalk or weaving between the crawling vehicles.
Frequent radio broadcasts, as well as websites and designated television stations showing the views from closed circuit cameras around the city, help drivers plan alternate routes around trouble spots. Since many offices are closed and few deliveries are being made, Sunday tends to be the easiest day to drive downtown. It is recommended that one make sure there are no marathons, parades are special events planned that may delay travel.
When most people are asked for their opinion about driving in the city and its boroughs, they will generally advise that anyone who is not extremely familiar with the streets stick to public transportation. The subway is by far the quickest way to make any distance, followed by the buses and cabs. When going just a few blocks, many even suggest that walking or biking could be faster than taking a car.
A lot of confidence and some finesse will be required to navigate this city. Switching lanes is not easily done, so one must be aware of where they need to turn and adjust as early as possible. The regulars on the road tend to show no compassion or patience for newcomers who are unfamiliar with the grid and may react aggressively when something happens to disturb the flow.
What the regulars consider the flow is actually a rather slow crawl compared to the national average. The average between 7am and 7pm is about 16mph, though it has moments when it drops down as low as 6mph. Congestion is the norm.
Multiple factors contribute to the frequent jams and occasional gridlock that occurs in the streets of the big apple. First of all, the city is a leading business metropolis filled with corporate headquarters, leading fashion houses, premier shopping and exquisite dining, not to mention Wall Street and the United Nations. The second big issue is that many areas are only accessible through the limited number of bridges and tunnels leading into and out of them.
One must be quite brave to attempt parking in the downtown area. There are plenty of garages available, though their fees can be quite high depending on which block they are located and finding a parallel space during the peak hours is both hazardous and difficult. Those driving personal vehicles should be prepared to spend a lot of time searching a spot or be ready to pay the cost for an enclosed structure.
Cyclists are a common feature on the streets as more people find that for traveling the distance of a few city blocks, it is not only a healthier option, but a much quicker one. Although there are dedicated bicycle lanes, they are viewed more of a guideline instead of a rule. This is primarily because they are often used as parking spaces which forces the bikes either onto the sidewalk or weaving between the crawling vehicles.
Frequent radio broadcasts, as well as websites and designated television stations showing the views from closed circuit cameras around the city, help drivers plan alternate routes around trouble spots. Since many offices are closed and few deliveries are being made, Sunday tends to be the easiest day to drive downtown. It is recommended that one make sure there are no marathons, parades are special events planned that may delay travel.
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