The collapse of the congestion-ricing plan in New York is a pity, and Charles Kolmanoff has a nice rundown of the reasons why -- both why the plan was a good thing, and why it failed. In particularly, it's important to take to heart his admonition against focusing too much on climate change as the impetus for all improvements in urban policy and public transportation. Lifestyle matters too, and less traffic, and more transport options, can offer vast improvements in lifestyle. When I first moved out to DC, I'd occasionally drive out to Pentagon City mall, on the theory that a) the mall was far and b) driving was easier than taking the metro. Turned out that it took far longer to drive, as the traffic was prohibitive, and I arrived in a much worse mood. In other words, my life was actually improved by the public transit option. Switching from car to subway was a positive lifestyle choice, it wasn't a case of eating my vegetables, or prioritizing the greater good above my own comfort. Walkable cities, more mixed-use development, the ability to metro over to friends without worrying about rush hour traffic...all these things make life more fun, and cities more livable. And that's reason enough to support them.
