Reaffirming his willingness to tackle government car culture, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced last week that he will significantly decrease the number of city-issued parking permits.In a speech to the Association for a Better New York, Mayor Bloomberg called transportation a top priority, and said the administration is concerned with getting as many cars off the streets as possible, starting with city vehicles.

"Effective March 1, I have ordered city agencies to reduce the number of parking permits they hold by 30% and to cut the time to permit expiration in half, " Mayor Bloomberg remarked in the address.

NYC DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall told the New York Post that this reduction should go hand-in-hand with a trimming of official agency fleets."If they don't have the permits, are they going to need the cars?" she said. "We've got a mayor now who uses mass transportation."

Transportation issues were also prominent in Mayor Bloomberg's first weekly WABC radio call-in show, which aired February 1.In addition to discussing his plan to reduce city parking permits, the Mayor said the city needs greater investment in transit, calling the subway the best way to get around NYC.He also highlighted improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists and reducing traffic in Manhattan as priorities.

Groups Laud MetroCard Mayor 
(Feb. 4, 2002)

Straphanging Mayor No Car Potato (Jan. 7, 2002) 

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