Things such as planning, region and function will greatly effect the driving conditions within its limits. Most cities do not pose much difficulty at all but several of the larger metropolises have a number of serious issues. With the exception of Los Angeles, New York traffic is commonly voted the worst in the United States.
When surveys are taken, the majority of locals would recommend that anyone not intimately familiar with the city's layout save themselves a headache and utilize the public transportation system. There is little doubt that the subway is definitely the the fastest way to get to one's destination, with the cabs and buses following close behind. Many feel that even walking and cycling is quicker than driving.
Navigating downtown will require both driving finesse and personal confidence. One should be aware of how far ahead their turn is and plan to switch lanes as soon as possible since this task is not easily performed. The folks who drive their daily routes are often quite intolerant of anyone trying to go against the flow or holding things up more than normal.
What the regulars consider the flow is actually a rather slow crawl compared to the national average. The average between 7am and 7pm is about 16mph, though it has moments when it drops down as low as 6mph. Congestion is the norm.
Multiple factors contribute to the frequent jams and occasional gridlock that occurs in the streets of the big apple. First of all, the city is a leading business metropolis filled with corporate headquarters, leading fashion houses, premier shopping and exquisite dining, not to mention Wall Street and the United Nations. The second big issue is that many areas are only accessible through the limited number of bridges and tunnels leading into and out of them.
One must be quite brave to attempt parking in the downtown area. There are plenty of garages available, though their fees can be quite high depending on which block they are located and finding a parallel space during the peak hours is both hazardous and difficult. Those driving personal vehicles should be prepared to spend a lot of time searching a spot or be ready to pay the cost for an enclosed structure.
When it comes to traversing a few city blocks, many people have decided to switch to bicycles which are both faster and better for one's physical health. The lanes that are provided for bikes are considered less of a rule and more of a general guideline. Because a lot of drivers view these areas a convenient parking, cyclists are forced to ride the sidewalks or become daring enough to zoom through the narrow open spaces between the barely moving vehicles.
To help drivers avoid trouble areas, radio stations give frequent updates and dedicated television channels and websites host live feeds from the closed circuit cameras placed at strategic points throughout the city. Sunday is usually the easiest driving day as many of the offices are closed and not accepting deliveries. It is always advisable to check if any parades, marathons or special celebrations are planned before traveling.
When surveys are taken, the majority of locals would recommend that anyone not intimately familiar with the city's layout save themselves a headache and utilize the public transportation system. There is little doubt that the subway is definitely the the fastest way to get to one's destination, with the cabs and buses following close behind. Many feel that even walking and cycling is quicker than driving.
Navigating downtown will require both driving finesse and personal confidence. One should be aware of how far ahead their turn is and plan to switch lanes as soon as possible since this task is not easily performed. The folks who drive their daily routes are often quite intolerant of anyone trying to go against the flow or holding things up more than normal.
What the regulars consider the flow is actually a rather slow crawl compared to the national average. The average between 7am and 7pm is about 16mph, though it has moments when it drops down as low as 6mph. Congestion is the norm.
Multiple factors contribute to the frequent jams and occasional gridlock that occurs in the streets of the big apple. First of all, the city is a leading business metropolis filled with corporate headquarters, leading fashion houses, premier shopping and exquisite dining, not to mention Wall Street and the United Nations. The second big issue is that many areas are only accessible through the limited number of bridges and tunnels leading into and out of them.
One must be quite brave to attempt parking in the downtown area. There are plenty of garages available, though their fees can be quite high depending on which block they are located and finding a parallel space during the peak hours is both hazardous and difficult. Those driving personal vehicles should be prepared to spend a lot of time searching a spot or be ready to pay the cost for an enclosed structure.
When it comes to traversing a few city blocks, many people have decided to switch to bicycles which are both faster and better for one's physical health. The lanes that are provided for bikes are considered less of a rule and more of a general guideline. Because a lot of drivers view these areas a convenient parking, cyclists are forced to ride the sidewalks or become daring enough to zoom through the narrow open spaces between the barely moving vehicles.
To help drivers avoid trouble areas, radio stations give frequent updates and dedicated television channels and websites host live feeds from the closed circuit cameras placed at strategic points throughout the city. Sunday is usually the easiest driving day as many of the offices are closed and not accepting deliveries. It is always advisable to check if any parades, marathons or special celebrations are planned before traveling.
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