By Gary Martin
Here’s a thought — why doesn’t the city’s recent congestion pricing do something about the sidewalks and the other vehicles (motorized or not) on the streets? Now there’s a revenue opportunity! 😉
* * *
Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.
This is a fabulous illustration and the sarcasm is noted. And yet — it feels so spot on. You’ve got to be good at block and tackle lately with all the commotion on the sidewalks and streets!
Nice.
Thank you for the help.
That’s all I wanted to hear. You’re very welcome!
When a bike messenger and a baby/dog stroller are approaching me, who has the right of way? And why isn’t ever me?! I’m always moved (pushed?) to the side of a building.
Spot on Gary!
Always hew to starboard, as is done under international navigation rules: then you will always be in and on the right.
And perhaps someday everyone else will catch on.
haha! That’s how I feel!
(Love the illustration—the dogs at least look happy!☺️ funny the girl with the Easter bunny ears balancing boxes with arrows going every which way!😂)
The cartoon would be more realistic if the cyclist were riding the bicycle on the sidewalk. /s
Apparently no good deed goes unpunished! However, just wait, our orange emperor will soon eliminate congestion pricing altogether and than see what the streets look like!
Stealing money from people who drive and using it to pay for people who jump the turnstile on the subway, is not my idea of a good deed. People who think it makes sense are the reason the Democrats are a rudderless ship.
Whereas people who think totalitarian dictatorship under a demented Nazi grifter is the answer seem confined to the (R) cult.
You do realize We have no idea who ran the country for the past 4 years? This Nazi nonsense really shows your ignorance.
Yes, my ignorance is the truly stuff of legend! Perhaps you would be so kind as to clear up some points:
So you’re claiming that Donnie only PLAYS a Nazi on TV? That he only surrounds himself by so many high-level Nazi and Nazi-adjacent associates out of his inner DEI impulses? That he only quotes Nazis, uses Nazi symbolism, mirrors Nazi rhetoric, and implements Nazi-style policies … coincidentally?
And then there’s Krasnov’s beloved bedside copy of Hitler’s “My New Order”, of which you’ve no doubt heard.
BTW, whoever ran the country the past four years did an exemplary job with the economy.
We’re told that many drivers obscure their license plates or use other dodges to avoid paying highway tolls.
King Krasnov is further working to reduce congestion by depopulating America, his latest salvo being by deporting legal U.S. citizens.
Before long not a creature will be stirring, not even a rat.
Lunar tick
If only mere insanity were his only or worse defect!
• “Press Secretary Says Trump Wasn’t Joking About Deporting U.S. Citizens” (https://newrepublic.com/post/193751/donald-trump-press-secretary-deport-us-citizens)
• “White House Confirms Trump Is Exploring Ways To ‘Deport’ U.S. Citizens” (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-house-confirms-trump-is-exploring-ways-to-deport-us-citizens_n_67f580abe4b0a5ea5c7608d2)
• “Donald Trump Says He Loves Idea of Sending Americans to El Salvador Prison” (https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-sending-americans-el-salvador-prison-2056122)
• “Team Trump Is Gaming Out How to Ship U.S. Citizens to El Salvador” (https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-el-salvador-us-citizens-denaturalization-1235315975/)
So true. Too many things going on
NAILED IT AGAIN GARY! I was run over by one of those “other” vehicles!!
Gary’s cartoons are very clever and timely. Love the artwork.
Always current and witty
Any mayoral candidate who promises to do something about bikes on sidewalks, bikes going the wrong way, bikes going through red lights, will get my vote.
Agree – Expand the sidewalk! Take back what Robert Moses took from us
So very true
Yes! And it’s just as bad, if not worse, on the UES!!!
I was there this week, seemed better in the east 70s.
Didn’t have to dodge as many e-bikes being driven illegally, but wasn’t there around dinner time.
Don’t give them any ideas. Next thing you know, it’ll cost me an extra $9 to go below 86th Street to get to Zabars
Drive to Zabar’s?
Really captures the chaos.
David,
Not even close.
🤣🤣🤣
Maybe we could have annoyance pricing?
🤭 now that’s funny! Great!! Keep them coming….enjoying your weekly spins. It makes my day 😂
All I gotta say is while I don’t drive in the city often, the new bus lane on 96th street has made it dangerous for pedestrians and cars. Cars are often backed up from Broadway through Columbus and sometimes get stuck in the intersections which blocks perpendicular traffic. Cars could easily move into the bus lane when they get stuck in intersections but no one wants to risk the ticket from police cars watching those corners or bus cameras getting plates. I say those bus lanes should be bus only during rush hour in the morning and late afternoon. Not all day. Most times those lanes are empty and cars are backed up for no reason. Pedestrians have weave in and out of them at crosswalks.
I’m just wondering where you get these wonderful ideas for clever captions.
you.
Love your cartoons Gary. Keep them coming, please.
New Yorkers love to walk and it’s now become a nightmare trying to negotiate through the ever worsening e vehicle mess. Great to see we all agree. Please look up a group called EVSA who is trying to make a difference and bring accountability to the situation. Get involved.
I am really glad congestion pricing has finally arrived…though it arrived AFTER I moved north of 60th Street. I do still work in the Times Square area and the impact it is having is quite evident–fewer vehicles, no more endless traffic jams, less horn-honking… Now something has to be done about all of the other vehicles — pedicabs, e-bikes, scooters, — zig-zagging in and out of the bike lanes, going the wrong way on one-way streets, running the red-lights… And don’t get me started on all the e-bikes in subway cars…
We could close off roads to cars and make the streets walkable. The problem is we are trying to cram all the other people on the street in 20% of the space where 80% is dedicated to private personal cars. Maybe an equitable 50-50 would be better.