Submitted by Larry Littlefield, Mar 24, 2008 09:01

Mr. Wolf needs to answer a couple of questions about our relative value as people. Do I have the same right to drive to Manhattan as he does? And what if I and everyone else like me exercised that right?

The fact is that street space in the CBD is scarce. It will either be rationed by price, with those who are willing to pay using it, or rationed by queue, with those willing to put up with the most congestion using it. If rationed by price, those who forego their equal right to that street space will receive compensation in the form of benefits from the congestion pricing revenues. If rationed by queue, you are going to have politically powerful queue jumpers.

I knew the "middle class" was shrinking, but now I know its extent -- the 142,000 parking placard holders. Those are the only people who can drive to Manhattan for free. The rich, I suppose, are those who take black cars and taxis, ride the commuter rail lines, or can afford private garages. I am among the poor, though not taxed like it.

It should be noted that a couple of decades ago the city decided the very solution Mr. Wolf disagrees with for the "right to drive" was deemed acceptable for the "right to drink water." Should water metering be eliminated as well?

If the only restriction on traffic is going to be congestion, then the rest of us have nothing to lose by taking away space on the street from the private automobile. People will drive until the traffic is a bad as the marginal person can stand in any event.

And if congestion pricing is not enacted, and even if it is, that is what I'm now prepared to recommend -- let the square footage of the public right of way that is not paid for by tolls be allocated based on the share of people traveling in a given area. The problem with private motor vehicles is they take up too much space. So widen the sidewalks, install barrier-separated lanes for bicycles and emergency vehicles, and let the "middle class" engage in a staredown over the remaining space.

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