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Responding to the global warming debate bubbling throughout the nation, City Councilmember Hiram Monserrate, (D-Corona) is going green and encouraging Queens to follow by authoring a bill that would offer free parking and tax incentives to car shoppers that choose hybrid vehicles.

Some transportation officials however have been critical of the bill, raising concerns that encouraging hybrid purchases will worsen traffic and pollution in the city.

Critics point out that while hybrid vehicles may be more environmentally friendly than their gas-only predecessors, they still produce harmful emissions and are less preferable as a green alternative. These critics also argue that the bill is unnecessary because the Federal Government already encourages hybrid purchases with tax credits of up to $3,000.

Monserrate however pushed forward with the plan which he thinks will encourage more environmentally conscious car purchases and said in a statement that New York City should be a leader, not a follower in the hybrid movement.
“The ‘capital of the world’ must lead by example and that is why I have introduced legislation that will give new owners of hybrid vehicles free parking within city limits. This legislative measure will aide in the systematic decrease of the amount of carbon dioxide this city emits into the atmosphere,” Monserrate said.

But Paul S. White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives disagrees.

“This bill betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of how free parking exacerbates traffic and pollution from all types of vehicles. The result of these handouts to hybrid drivers will be more traffic, more pollution and more carbon.”

Current New York City Department of Traffic Commissioner for Planning and Sustainability Bruce Schallen also finds the bill flawed, and is critical of its unintended results.
“The cost and availability of parking is the biggest factor influencing potential motorists’ choice between driving and taking public transportation. Free or reimbursed parking is an inducement parking is an inducement for the majority of motorists to drive rather than use public transportation or other means of travel.”

The legislation aims to reduce pollution throughout the city and is cosponsored by Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows).

The bill comes on the heels of Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing initiative, which would charge drivers to enter Manhattan’s busiest areas during rush hour.

Monserrate also has introduced resolutions urging state officials to approve legislation that would encourage drivers to purchase hybrid vehicles by offering a sales and compensating use tax exemption for the purchase and maintenance of hybrids.

But critics argue that by promoting the purchase of hybrids, the bill could exacerbate the already negative effects on the environment that result from gas burning vehicles.
In a statement released by Transportation Alternatives, a non-profit advocacy group that works to reduce car traffic throughout the city, the group argued the bill does not effectively address congestion and pollution problems.

Transportation Alternatives has criticized the plan on four fronts. They argue that free parking will increase traffic on already congested streets, the city will suffer from lost parking revenue and that encouraging hybrid purchases does not fully tackle the environmental problems posed by gas burning vehicles.