On November 25, 2024, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced that roughly 500 new loading zones have been installed. This was done to combat bike and bus lanes blocked by vehicle’s being double parked to load and unload shipments, which resulted in unwanted traffic congestion. This problem was made aware to the City via public feedback from a new web platform the City launched in 2023. Since December 2021, the City Department of Transportation has installed roughly 3,000 loading zones in an effort to combat this persistent issue.
The goal of the platform is for New Yorkers to bring problems that have to be addressed the attention of City workers. The platform allows users to place a pin on a map to identify the location of the related to loading and unloading and comments. The City Department of Transportation utilizes public feedback and other data to determine the specific placement of loading zones in compliance with Local Law 168 of 2021. This law mandates New York City Department of Transportation to collect local input when determining new loading zones.
Along with the City Department of Transportation web platform, there are other efforts the City has implemented to address effects of subsequent truck deliveries resulting from the increase of ordering of goods online which accounts for almost 90 percent of goods moved in New York City.
These efforts include Blue Highways, Micohubs, off-hour deliveries, commercial cargo bikes, LockerNYC, and Automatic Camera Enforcement programs. The Blue Highways initiative encourages the use of City waterways, instead of roadways, to transport goods in and around the City. Microhubs provide dedicated spaces to truck operators to transfer deliveries to more sustainable modes of transportation including e-cargo bikes, handcarts, and smaller electric sprinter vans. The New York City Department of Transportation Off-Hour Deliveries program incentivizes delivery of goods during the off-peak hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. to decrease traffic congestion, double parking, and truck emissions. The commercial cargo bikes program allows companies who utilize use cargo bicycles to make local deliveries to load and unload in commercial vehicle loading zones and at designated cargo bicycle corrals. The LockerNYC program provides New Yorkers free public lockers, located on City Sidewalks, to send and receive packages.
The automatic camera enforcement program involved equipping over 1,000 buses with cameras that automatically capture double parking violations and bus lane obstructions. Once the image, video, images, license plate, location and time stamp information are captured they are then transmitted to the City Department of Transportation for review.
Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi said, “Double parking is a nuisance for all users of our curb lane. Loading zones are flexible spaces that increase turnover and reduce double parking up to 70 percents. Combined with automated double-parking enforcement and making last-mile package deliveries more efficient, the city is tackling congestion from multiple fronts.”
New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, “Nobody likes double parking and blocked bike and bus lanes! New Yorkers pinned down areas plagued by double parking and blocked bike and bus lanes and we responded with fast action at over 500 locations. These new loading zones are helping to alleviate congestion and improve street safety and we encourage New Yorkers to report problem areas by visiting nyc.gov/LoadingFeedback.”
By: Chelsea Ramjeawan (Chelsea is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2025.)