Should I Drive to NYC
Should I drive to NYC? If you are asking this question then it is obvious, you really don’t know much about New York City. This article is not about discouraging you taking your car to New York City but it will help shed light on what things you need to look out for. New York City is a very busy city and it seems like the cars don’t fit the small streets anymore. But, the most complicated parts of NYC driving are the driving rules and car parking. To avoid getting any parking or driving tickets while you are visiting the Big Apple, heed out these important tips.
Don’t Drive If Possible
If you are asking the question “Should I drive to NYC?” the best answer would be not to if you are a visitor. Visitors are better off riding the train or taking the bus when going around the metropolis. For one, public transportation in New York City is very easy and it won’t get you lost. Second, driving around New York City as a visitor will surely get you in some kind of trouble, whether it’s making the wrong turn or driving on a street at a certain unallowable time. Another reason is that car parking in New York City is expensive. You pay by the minute and you have to make sure you pay enough to avoid getting parking tickets.
Watch Out for Street Signs
If you simply must bring your car with you, then you must know specific driving guidelines in New York City. Traffic enforcers won’t hesitate giving you ticket after ticket if you are guilty of several traffic violations. You can’t turn right even if the stoplight is red (allowable in other states) but there are special cases when you can. You must keep an eye out for street signs saying that you can’t make a turn on a street during specific hours of the day. This is to avoid traffic congestion during rush hours. Another thing you should watch out for are the pedestrians who often jaywalk in the streets. Be wary of people crossing the street illegally to avoid any accidents.
Car Parking in NYC
There are two ways to park your car in NYC: street parking and garage parking. When you park in the street, you have to bring tons of quarters with you because you’ll pay through meters; that is, if they haven’t changed the single parking meters to the new muni-meters. On the other hand, you can also park in parking garages but be wary about their prices. From afar, the sign will say $5 for the whole day, but they will charge you $5 for every hour.
Should I drive to NYC? If you must, then you can drive on your own. However, if you don’t want to risk getting tickets left and right, and pay a fortune on parking fees, better stick to public transportation for a stress-free trip.
