Is New York Ready to Change its Parking Culture?

Conversations about radically overhauling parking regulations in New York City, as the Big Apple is surprisingly behind the times when it comes to innovative approaches to parking.

2 minute read

November 2, 2019, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


On-Street Parking

Alan Budman / Shutterstock

Stephen Nessen reports that Ed Pincar, Manhattan borough commissioner of the New York City Department Of Transportation, has hinted at the potential demise of the city's long-standing parking regulation regime.

"New York City has about 3 million parking spaces, the majority of those cost drivers no money," explains Nessen for context. "But that could soon change. City officials are starting to recognize the costs and losses of giving away free curb space."

So in comments made to a public board meeting on the subject of residential parking permits, Pincap dropped this bombshell:

“If the last 10 years was focused on trying to develop a series of tools for safer streets, I think curb management is going to be the theme for the next 10 years,” Pincar said at Tuesday’s CB7 meeting. “Particularly as technology improves, it would be great if there were different spots on a block that are charged different amounts and maybe have different times.”

The conversation is in the earliest possible stages, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest that free parking isn't actually free, as noted by Nessen in the article. Still, the city has a long way to go to correct their parking regulations. "For the general public to accept the idea that street parking and curb use should be charged at a rate, will take a major cultural shift," writes Nessen to conclude the article.

Friday, November 1, 2019 in Gothamist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing

The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

7 hours ago - Strong Towns

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14 - Smart Cities Dive

Green Skid Row mural satirizing city limit sign in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents

The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.

July 14 - Los Angeles Public Press