Donald Shoup's classic "The High Cost of Free Parking" outlines the systemic problems of using free or cheap parking as a lure for people to drive to their destination. This is particularly a problem even in crowded downtown area. Most on street parking in the city is either free or only costs 25-50 cents an hour while the cost of private parking garages is 10-20 times that level. This is a major subsidy to those who drive cars in NYC and represents a loss of precious public space to the rest of the city's residents. It also creates unnecessary traffic and pollution as motorists circle their destinations looking for a cheap spot.

Thankfully, there is a growing group of concerned citizens that are taking action on this. New York Streets Renaissance is supported by a wide coalition of citizen organizations like Transportation Alternatives, Project for Public Spaces and many others. Aaron Naparstek has also started a new blog called NYC Streets Blog as part of the Open Planning Project.