Funny, you and I used to agree on most things. I haven't been to NYC for just over a year now, but that doesn't make me ignorant. As I recall, most of the traffic was taxis and buses. No one is forcing people to drive in the city, there's plenty of alternative transport. Conversely, no one is forcing anyone to live in the city.

At the risk of generating a further argument, why do you choose to live in the city? I live near the beach, in a low density area, which still has excellent public transport. I'm not willing to sacrifice health and safety for whatever allure a big city has.

And no, I don't have a solution to the problem. But I'm realistic in my views as well. You are fighting politicians and the almighty dollar, which is almost always a losing battle.