Change...

 

Of the so-called C40 cities that have committed to addressing climate change, New York has the second highest level of greenhouse emissions behind only Tokyo, and on a per-capita basis is only slightly behind Los Angeles. 

This might come as a surprise to those who think New York’s robust public transportation system, which accounts for a mere three percent of the city’s overall emissions but moves some 7.5 million riders on the subway and buses every day, make it a particularly clean energy city.

Schaller estimates that from 2013 to 2016, TLC-licensed vehicles, including app-based drivers, added 600 million more miles traveled very slowley, only one-third of which were with a passenger in the car.  

As private vehicle registration and for-hire vehicle use is rising, public transportation use is falling. The two are very much linked; as the subways and buses continue to provide inconsistent and often frustrating service, people opt for alternatives.  

So between Climate change, deteriorated subway/Buses system,  and Covid-19 virus threat, [that killed 60,000 New Yorkers] the condensed City of New York is the main culprit.  Just a thought.