Reducing VMT will get us the safer, cleaner, quieter streets that we all seek

NYC streets can’t get any wider, yet we pack them in with more and more driving creating a congested nightmare for drivers and everyone else using them. We’re not imagining that traffic has gotten worse: it’s true—the data proves it. Between 2014 and 2023, conservative estimates show a 16% increase in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). Despite the visibility of freight and For Hire Vehicles (FHVs), private driving makes up the vast majority of VMT in New York City - 80%! - and is the primary cause of the increase over the last ten years.  

We call on DOT, the Mayor, and other agencies to take new actions to track and reduce VMT in NYC. In this NEW report, Hit the Brakes: Understanding and reducing vehicle miles traveled in NYC,

we recommend that the city set a goal to reduce VMT by 40% by 2035. To achieve this goal, we offer a series of policies and strategies well proven to reduce VMT:

• Invest in Alternatives
  • Super-charge the creation of true Bus Rapid Transit
  • Build a connected and protected micro-mobility network
• Change the Incentives
  • Experiment with Car Free Zones (CFZs)  / Limited Traffic Zones (LTZs) - especially in dense areas like Times Square
  • Implement Low Traffic Neighborhoods across all boroughs
  • Appropriately price the costs of driving (expand congestion pricing and explore other pricing models)
• Eliminate city and state policies that encourage driving
  • Adopt a repair first policy, and halt highway expansions 
  • Adjust parking policies and launch Demand Based Parking Pricing

For too long, cars have dominated New York City and our lack of direct attention to the issue has allowed policies to, directly or indirectly, exacerbate the issue. By aligning our priorities and values with tangible goals and implementing complementary policies, New York City can evolve in a new direction that is good for business, good for people, and good for our communities at large.

Driving in NYC continues to increase, and it's now more crucial than ever that the city set a goal for reducing VMT. Join our webinar on November 19 at 12 PM to learn why this is so important and explore proven strategies to make it work. 

Personal vehicles dominate city traffic, so to lower VMT, we need a lot more strategies like congestion pricing to get NYers to stop driving so much. Low traffic neighborhoods and bus rapid transit aren't just nice-to-haves, they're how we win.

We had a great conversation with Council Member Shahana Hanif at Tava in Brooklyn, discussing the importance of supporting our street vendors and delivery workers, and how the current outdoor dining program can be improved.

Donald Shoup's parking reforms have quietly revolutionized how cities think about their streets. Join us on November 20 at 6 PM for an evening to celebrate his transformative legacy and explore how his ideas are shaping the future of urban planning.

CM Lincoln Restler introduced Int. 1421, a bill to bring the outdoor dining program back to its glory days! Tell your CM you support Int. 1421 and want to to help the program thrive citywide and give New Yorkers more outdoor dining options.

🌳 Mott Haven Walk & Talk | Fri, Oct 24 | 1-3 PM

See how parks and public space shape daily life in the South Bronx. This guided walk with New Yorkers for Parks and local advocates explores infrastructure wins, climate solutions, and what's still needed on the waterfront and greenways. Meet at Graham Triangle by the 6 train and learn why investing in the public realm matters for health, safety, and resilience.

🏗️ The Future of Infrastructure and Place | Sat, Oct 25 | 2-4 PM
Join the Bronx River Art Center for a conversation about the path to more just infrastructure futures, in the context of Cross Bronx Expressway and beyond.

🎃 Trick-or Streets | Oct 17-31
NYC DOT is once again turning Open Streets and plazas into Halloween fun across all five boroughs! Expect live music, interactive performances, harvest activities, seasonal crafts, and festive photo ops at neighborhood celebrations throughout the festival. Each partner event has its own vibe.

👻 Theory 9 (Bronx) | Sat, Oct 25 | 3-9 PM | 120 West 231st Street (West 231 Street, Sedgwick Avenue to Kingsbridge Terrace)

🧟 PS 134Q (Queens) | Fri, Oct 31 | 9 AM-1:30 PM | 109 Avenue Open Street (109 Avenue, 204 Street to 203 Street)

🦇 City As School (Manhattan) | Fri, Oct 31 | 10 AM-5:30 PM | Clarkson Street Open Street (Clarkson Street, Varick Street to Hudson Street)

🕷️ The C.O.R.E Family Enrichment Center (Bronx) | Fri, Oct 31 | 1-7 PM | Manor Avenue Open Street (Manor Avenue, Westchester Avenue to East 172 Street)

🐈‍⬛ Bean Morris Community Garden (Bronx) | Fri, Oct 31 | 3 PM | 2096 Morris Avenue (Morris Avenue, East Burnside Avenue to East 181 Street)

🧙🏻‍♀️ Harlem Lane (Manhattan) | Fri, Oct 31 | 3-4 PM | St Nicholas Avenue Open Street (Saint Nicholas Avenue, West 116 Street to West 118 Street)

🕯️ Neighbors for a Safer Austin Street (Queens) | Fri, Oct 31 | 3-6 PM | Austin Street (Austin Street, Continental Avenue to 71 Road)

👉🏼 Find all Trick-or-Streets festivities across NYC here.

🗳️ 2025 November General Election | Tue, Nov 4

New York's electing a mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough presidents, and city council members. Make your plan to vote whether that's early, by mail, or on Election Day.

• Sat, Oct 25 – Voter registration deadline & early voting begins
• Sat, Oct 25 – Last day to request mail ballot online
• Mon, Nov 3 – Last day to request mail ballot in person
• Sat, Oct 25-Sun, Nov 2 – Early voting period
• Tue, Nov 4 – Election Day

🚲 Bronx River Slow Roll | Sat, Nov 1 | 9:30 AM

Join this family-friendly 6-mile ride along the Bronx River Greenway at a chill 7-9 mph pace (perfect for families and kiddos) from 233rd St & Bronx Blvd to Concrete Plant Park. At the finish, the Bronx River Alliance will host a Community Banquet with free paddling and fun activities. Meet at 9:30 AM; wheels down at 10 AM sharp. Bring your bike and helmet!

🚸 LIC Mobility Study Focus Group | Wed, Nov 5 | 6:30 PM

Voice your concerns and share your ideas for the future of Queens Plaza and Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. In this public focus group hosted by LIC Partnership, with support from TY Lin and WXY Studio, you will talk about ways to make one of Long Island City's busiest corridors safer, more walkable, and more welcoming for everyone.

🏞️ Support Parks 2030 Platform

Families in lower-income neighborhoods have 38% less park space, and the Parks Department has faced years of disinvestment. Parks 2030 is a comprehensive platform calling for fully staffed maintenance crews in every park, dedicated funding instead of annual budget battles, new 20-acre parks in each borough, and parks as climate solutions with expanded tree canopy. Sign on to tell City Council and the Administration that our parks deserve better.

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New York, NY 10013

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