I call on Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to tackle traffic congestion issues in all the boroughs, not just in Manhattan. Let us hope they will consider using a number of sound suggestions made as alternatives to taxing motorists to enter Manhattan.
As a short-term plan, Bloomberg, along with the NYPD and Department of Transportation Traffic Enforcement Unit, need to make clear that traffic regulations will be aggressively enforced in heavily congested zones throughout the five boroughs. Specifically, double parking, blocking intersections, unauthorized riding in bus lanes and ignoring “No Standing” and “No Parking” regulations should not be tolerated.
To coincide with this aggressive enforcement, the city must add enforcement personnel, significantly raise fines and come up with a plan that will prevent pedestrians from blocking traffic flow by standing in the curb lane while they wait to cross the street.
In the long run, we need to look to limit commercial deliveries in high-volume zones to non-rush hour times. This will free up our streets and allow for quicker deliveries when the streets are less traveled.
Phil Konigsberg
Bay Terrace
