"The analysis, " Hit the Brakes: Understanding and Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled in NYC," reveals that VMTs have risen by 16 percent between 2005 and 2023, even though the population of the city rose only 1.4 percent in that period. More than 24 billion miles were driven last year in the city. The launch of congestion pricing has started a decline in that trend, but not by nearly as much as the year's long rise."
"In other words, drivers have met the enemy ... and it is them. "We've allowed more car owners to drive more miles across the five boroughs. But it doesn't have to be this way," said Sara Lind, the co-executive director of Open Plans (which, full disclosure, shares a parent company with Streetsblog). "If we don't act now to reclaim our streets, reduce VMT, and give New Yorkers real, safer alternatives to driving, we'll fail on our safety, equity, and climate goals."
Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in New York City increased 16 percent from 2005 to 2023, totaling more than 24 billion miles in 2023. Congestion pricing has initiated a small decline but has not reversed years of rising VMT. Private vehicles account for roughly 80 percent of VMT, and average miles driven per car owner rose 22 percent between 2019 and 2023. Car ownership climbed about 10 percent since 2010 while population grew only about 1 percent. Rising VMT undermines Vision Zero street-safety objectives, pollution-reduction efforts, and congestion-mitigation goals. Proposed actions focus on reclaiming streets, reducing VMT, and expanding safer alternatives to driving.
Read at Streetsblog
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