Changes since congestion pricing started in New York

The increased speeds are excellent for those who can afford the toll. This is a universal benefit of toll roads for those people.

And the investments in public transit and bike paths are excellent for those who can't. Such unalloyed win-wins are hard to find.

I lived in Manhattan, and was very well paid. I did not own a car, and loved it. This would have been great for me as well.

Did you have children or did you live alone?

As someone with children, I can not imagine the bliss of living in Manhattan and being able to do things without needing a car.

Car-centric urban planning is hell with kids. You have to load them up into the car for any small trip. You can't walk or bike anywhere because cars make it so dangerous.

My only regret about living in the US is this car hellscape that is so hard to avoid. It's mandated by law, not chosen by the market.

Oof. I know people with kids in the city, and it seems like if you're taking public transit, it's a nightmare when they're little.

(When they're teenagers who knows, you have new problems)

People who live outside of Manhattan have more space and sometimes the optional car.

The professionals are paying an absolute fortune for child care, a salary's worth, and more for bigger apartments in nice neighborhoods.

It's no joke. You'd better be obsessed with the city, or a short commute, because otherwise you're moving to Westchester or NJ or LI.

My little kids looove transit. We take the bus all the time in my small town. We visit San Francisco almost weekly it's how we get around after parking. And we usually start our day in SOMA, an area that is not the nicest. We also frequently take the new central subway. I have not experienced a nightmare yet. Maybe Manhattan is more of a nightmare.

I have no doubt that Manhattan is expensive, but my greater point is that it would be great. A lot of very expensive things are great.