New York politician tried to ban all private cars from Manhattan due to 'intolerable' situation

This New York politician tried to ban all private cars from Manhattan due to an ‘intolerable’ situation.

When you think of New York City, it’s hard to imagine it without cars bustling through the streets.

But back in the late 1960s, a candidate for Mayor wanted to do away with all private cars on the island of Manhattan.

And he wasn’t the only one calling for such a measure at the time.

EXPLORE SBX CARS – Supercar auctions starting soon powered by Supercar Blondie 

The New York politician who tried to ban all private cars from Manhattan

In 1961, a provocative article was published in Dissent Magazine.

Writers Percival Goodman and Paul Goodman called for a ban on all cars from Manhattan, with some exceptions.

Said exceptions included buses, taxis, essential services, and trucking in light industries.

Other than that, the Goodmans wanted a car-free New York City.

“The present situation is intolerable and all other proposed solutions of it are uneconomic, disruptive, unhealthy, non-urban or impractical,” they wrote.

Several benefits were offered up, including community cohesion and reduced traffic.

At the summary of their piece, the writers opined that any candidate running with such a platform would lose an election.

Eight years later, that theory was put to the test.

Novelist Norman Mailer and columnist Jimmy Breslin were running on a ticket for government.

Mailer wanted to be the Mayor, while Breslin would be the President of the City Council.

Their platform had a number of intriguing proposals, including making New York City the 51st State.

But where cars were concerned, they were particularly bold – proposing a ban on all private cars.

As was the case with the Goodmans, taxis and buses would be permitted.

After all, who could imagine NYC without the iconic yellow cabs?

A monorail was also proposed to service the public’s transportation needs, as well as publicly owned bikes.

It was claimed that the elimination of private cars from the island of Manhattan would drop pollution levels by 60 percent.

What has happened in the Big Apple since?

Ultimately, the Mailer-Breslin ticket did not win over voters.

Although they won 41,288 votes – 5 percent of votes cast – they finished second to last, and their proposals weren’t put into action.

Hence why there’s no 51st state and cars still drive around New York City.

However, it’s been over 50 years since then – what’s changed in the city’s car culture?

Well, Ghost Cars are a big issue now, and the police are working hard to combat that problem.

There’s also the matter of these bulletproof Lamborghinis, made in response to carjackings.

We’re no political experts, but we reckon it will be a long while yet before a New York politician proposes to ban all private cars again.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie