Moon Petal

A Drive in New York City

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a fan of public transportation, not particularly buses, but of subway systems.  In London, we have Tube or Underground; in Paris and Washington, D.C., and even Los Angeles, it’s the Metro.  In the older, European cities, these underground trains enable you to see much of the city, without any of the trouble of driving; however, even I admit that there are times when public transportation is not the best choice available, especially when traveling.  The conveniences of renting a car, even in a city which boasts great mass transportation, such as New York City, is undeniable.  With a car, you’re truly free to explore in a way that completely unfetters your time.  And today, it’s easier than ever to obtain a car.  You can do it now, just by renting here.

In New York, much of the transportation routes link together the various airports, such as JFK, La Guardia and Newark, with Manhattan.  But there are five boroughs of New York City, such as The Bronx, which is the only one actually on the mainland of the U.S.; the other four exist on different islands, such as Queens and Brooklyn, on Long Island, Staten Island, and Manhattan.  While most of the usual tourist sites are accessible with mass transportation, some are not, such as the woodlands in Staten Island or the Bronx parkways.

Some people might be a bit nervous about driving in a major city, but they needn’t worry too much.  There are a few simple rules to remember: one is that you can’t turn right on a red light in Manhattan (made famous by a line in a Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, where he makes states that the only cultural advantage Los Angeles has over New York is the ability to make a right turn on a red light).  Also, be careful of gridlock.  If you’re stuck in an intersection, you may find yourself with a hundred dollar fine.  But that’s easy to control, just don’t enter an intersection if you’re not absolutely certain you can make it all the way to the other side.  With a car in New York, you’ll easily be able to make it to other areas in New York, and even to other nearby states, such as Connecticut.  So, as a general rule, while I prefer mass transit, every once in a while, pick up a car and explore.

Related posts:

1. John D. Rockefeller Jr. & His Contribution to the World of Art in New York City
2. Great Pasta in Little Italy New York