The Subway Mayor (Sort Of)

Though New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has earned kudos by taking public transit to work, reporters for the New York Times note his commute -- which involves a 22 block ride in a chauffeured Chevy Suburban -- isn't your average subway ride.

1 minute read

August 2, 2007, 8:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"He is public transportation's loudest cheerleader, boasting that he takes the subway "virtually every day." He has told residents who complain about overcrowded trains to "get real" and he constantly encourages New Yorkers to follow his environmentally friendly example.

But Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's commute is not your average straphanger's ride.

On mornings that he takes the subway from home, Mr. Bloomberg is picked up at his Upper East Side town house by a pair of king-size Chevrolet Suburbans. The mayor is driven 22 blocks to the subway station at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, where he can board an express train to City Hall. His drivers zip past his neighborhood station, a local subway stop a five-minute walk away.

That means Mr. Bloomberg - whose much-discussed subway rides have become an indelible component of his public image - spends a quarter of his ostensibly subterranean commute in an S.U.V."

Wednesday, August 1, 2007 in The New York Times

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

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.

June 18, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Two people walking away from camera through pedestrian plaza in street in Richmond, Virginia with purple and white city bus moving in background.

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA

The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

June 17, 2025 - WRIC

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16, 2025 - Governing

Close-up of green and white sign for 1 hour EV charging station outdoors with tall palm trees in background against blue sky.

Judge Reverses Federal Funding Freeze for EV Infrastructure

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to release funding for the National National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, a $5 billion program aimed at improving charging infrastructure.

1 hour ago - News From the States

Wide street in Santa Monica, California with cars parked on either side and tall palm trees lining the street on a sunny day.

Santa Monica May Raise Parking Permit Fees

The city says the changes would help better manage curb space and support its sustainability goals.

2 hours ago - Westside Current

Brick building with high-rise under construction with yellow crane in background in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Housing Bond Created Nearly 5,000 Units, But Affordability Remains Out of Reach

Despite better-than-expected results from multiple local housing bonds, housing costs and homelessness remain top of mind for many Oregonians.

5 hours ago - Governing

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.