With everyone on the move during the holiday season it’s quite literally impossible to avoid traffic delays–especially considering NYC is the worst city for driving to begin with. Thankfully though, NYC DOT compiled a list of gridlock delays to give us an idea of when we should avoid driving at all costs.
And, as it turns out, the first gridlock delay day is actually today, Tuesday, December 5th, and the rest of the week will also, unfortunately, experience gridlock delays.
NYC DOT designates the busiest traffic days of the year as Gridlock Alert Days. On these days they urge New Yorkers to consider walking, biking, or taking public transportation whenever possible.
After today, the remaining Gridlock Alert Days for the year include:
- Wednesday, December 6th, 2023
- Thursday, December 7th, 2023
- Friday, December 8th, 2023
- Tuesday, December 12th, 2023
- Wednesday, December 13th, 2023
- Thursday, December 14th, 2023
- Friday, December 15th, 2023
So whether you’re hopping in the car to visit friends and family, escape NYC on a whimsical winter getaway, or head to a festive Christmas town near the city, it’s suggested you avoid driving on these days.
On the bright side, Fifth Avenue is shutting down to all vehicular traffic on select Sundays in December, so at least we’ll all be able to enjoy the city’s magical holiday window displays, Christmas trees, and holiday markets sans the cars.