A novel aspect of New York City that everyone has seen before, as studium, but doesn’t truly get appreciated, as punctum, is the diverse modes of transportation in a land area of 304.6 mi² consisting of 8.538 million people. When delving deeper into those facts, the overall concerning question that should be asked is, “how does everyone get around in such an immensely populated society?” Most people know the answer but are victims of not fully comprehending it. I was a victim until I spent a week walking around the city finding a novel aspect of New York City to write about for my Photo Portfolio. In a 7-day period, I captured 9 fascinating and unique modes of transportation. I took pictures of vehicles that transport people on all types of pathways: the street, pedestrian sidewalk, bike-lane, water and underground. Additionally, here are some statistics published in October 2016 by the New York City Department of Transportation Mobility Report that prove the diverse and astronomical amount of transportations happing in New York City. In 2015, there were 1,763 million subway ridership, 651 million NYCT bus ridership, 109 thousands/day ferry riders, 450 thousand/day Est. cycling trips, 142.7 million Taxi trips, 1,879 household vehicle registrations, 72,000 Taxi & For-Hire vehicle registrations.
One vehicle for transportation is one’s personal car. When one has their own car, they weigh the risk of spending time finding parking and being stuck in traffic. Most personal cars are parked on the street somewhere within a close vicinity of their home, as one can fairly assume this car is (Picture 1). Due to the densely populated area of cars and pedestrians walking, cars are not able to exceed 25 mph and have limited parking availabilities. Additionally, New York City Governor Cuomo is trying to make the city eco-friendlier by encouraging more bikers than drivers. This is evidently seen through the spiral incline of bike lanes and the emerging of mass Citi-bikes.
Citi bike/personal bikes have immerged as New York Cities trendiest mode of transportation. As seen in the Citi-bike app, Citi-bikes have docks on almost every other street corner in the city. I am an annual Citi-bike member myself and advocate for the genius and innovate way of transportation (Picture 2). Besides the ride being more timely efficient, it also is a wonderful exercise and is an amazing long term investment. With bike lanes and traffic lights specifically for bikers it has also become a safer ride. However, one major problem with biking is it is harder to bike in the winter than to drive. During those times, it might be smart to call for a car service such as a Taxi, Uber, Lyft, Via etc.
New York City caters to a great number of annual tourists. According to NYC & Company, the city’s marketing tourism agency, the city is an international favorite destination that expects at least 300,000 visitors this year. For NYC residents and tourist, Taxis, Uber, Lyft and Vias are all convenient ways of transportation (Picture 3). However, while many people commute via car services, many more people transport via the MTA Subway system.
In 2016, the annual total of subway rides was 1,756,814,800. The number of riders is the most of any mode of transportation in the city (Picture 4). Experiences can range from appreciating all of New York City symbolically through subway rides to depreciating the Subway system due to its claustrophobic environment. Additionally, Subways run under the streets of New York City passing under street traffic making it a smoother ride.
The busing system is also controlled by the MTA. People use the bus because it is more affordable then a car service and can be more convenient to get to your destination than a subway can and is definitely more comfortable (Picture 5). In the city, buses are being used less every year and this might be due to the rise in bikes and the avoidance of traffic that subways systems caters to.
Walking, the traditional way to get around, is still the most common and popular mode of transportation (Picture 6). For NYC residents, the city provides mostly all the essentials within a 10-block radius of their homes. For Tourists, the big skyscrapers and dazzling lights are so aesthetically pleasing that walk around as an entertaining activity to do. Additionally, walking is a mode of transportation that everyone does in addition to another mode of transportation: whether done before or after. Every day, before and after, I Citi-bike to school, I walk. The City, contains the beautiful Central Park which consists of a reservoir, sports fields, concerts and other weekly fun activities. Walking is a mode of transportation that may reach a decline in the years to come, however, in my opinion, will never be extinct.
Skateboards are also modes of transportation meant for shorter distances (Picture 7). A positive attribute about skateboards is that they are easier to store or hold than a bike. Skateboards aren’t just used for leisure or for sport, they can also be a more efficient mode of transportation than one’s two legs.
Furthermore, not all of New York city is made of dirt, soil, cement etc., in fact, Manhattan is surrounded by the Hudson river to its west and the East river to its east. Thus, the ferry is a mode of transportation to get to other various islands such as Governor’s Island, Randall’s island and Ellis Island. The ferry is where one can get the best glimpse of the statue of liberty and is a much more calming and enjoyable ride that a subway ride. The Ferry is used more for leisure activities than work.
Lastly, motorcycles are a mode of transportation that weighs for the most part the same pros and cons as a car does, however, even the more so in the city, motorcycles are worse because it cannot go above the 25-mph speed limit and weave between cars (Picture 8). As a result, motorcycles are seen the least in the streets of New York City.
