Is Zohran Mamdani Anti-Car? What New York’s Motorists Need to Know

The Mayor doesn’t drive, but he’s steering New York’s future – and motorists might not like where the road’s heading

When a man who doesn’t even drive becomes the Mayor of New York City, you just know things are about to get interesting. Zohran Mamdani’s victory has made waves across the world – not just because he’s the first Muslim, first brown and first African-born mayor in NYC’s history, but because he represents something much bigger: a changing philosophy about how cities are built, who they serve, and – crucially for us car lovers – whether there’s still space for motorists in the urban future.

Now, before you reach for your pitchforks or your petrol can, let’s take a calm, and rational look at what this actually means for drivers.

The Mayor Who Doesn’t Drive

Mamdani doesn’t own a car. Never has. That’s already enough to raise eyebrows among those who see cars not just as transport, but as a lifeline of freedom.

He’s been an outspoken advocate for fare-free buses, expanded cycle lanes, and stronger congestion pricing. He’s even floated the idea of a weight-based vehicle tax, meaning the heavier your SUV or truck, the more you’d pay to keep it on the road.

Now, to city planners, that’s progressive policy. But to motorists, it sounds suspiciously like yet another step in the ever-escalating war on cars.

What He Actually Said – and Why It Matters

A resurfaced 2023 recording from the Vision Zero Cities Conference shed light on how Mamdani sees transport and safety. He argued that too many traffic deaths are treated as random accidents, rather than the result of systemic design failure. In his words: “Politicise every death. These people are not just killed by drivers; they are killed by the way our streets are designed.”

He also called for a weight-based tax, saying: “When they purchase a vehicle of a certain size and a certain weight, that comes with an additional cost – a fiscal cost, not just a moral one.”

So no – he’s not attacking individual drivers, but the system that gives cars priority over people. His language isn’t about banning cars, it’s about reframing roads as public spaces rather than private speedways.

That’s a noble goal… but it still puts him squarely on the opposite side of the street from most motorists.

Parallels With London – and Sadiq Khan

If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. London’s own Sadiq Khan took a similar approach: congestion charges, ULEZ expansion, low-traffic neighbourhoods – all introduced under the banner of health and safety, all met with uproar from drivers.

Both Khan and Mamdani claim to be pro-safety, not anti-car, yet their policies inevitably hit motorists hardest.

You can’t build cycle lanes and pedestrian plazas without taking away kerb space. You can’t reduce emissions without taxing vehicles. You can’t please everyone – and car owners, let’s face it, make an easy political target.

What This Means for Car Culture in New York

New York isn’t Los Angeles, Dubai, or London – and it actually has fewer car owners (56% of New Yorkers don’t own a car, but the same percentage of Londoners do!) – but it still has a thriving car culture. From the New York International Auto Show to Classic Car Club Manhattan and the legendary Captree Cars & Coffee meets, the city’s enthusiasts are a passionate bunch.

Most of these gatherings take place outside Manhattan, which is fortunate – because the congestion zone below 60th Street is about to get pricier, stricter, and probably harder to navigate.

Mamdani’s urban vision will make Manhattan cleaner, quieter, and safer. But whether it will still feel alive – that’s another question entirely.

Anti-Car, or Just Pro-People?

To be fair, Mamdani’s position isn’t one of hostility. He’s not banning cars; he’s re-prioritising public space.
His empathy clearly lies with delivery riders, cyclists, and pedestrians – especially low-income, immigrant workers who spend their days dodging danger on chaotic streets.

When you see it from his lens, this is less about punishing drivers and more about protecting the vulnerable.
But from a driver’s seat view, it still feels like motorists are getting pushed further to the margins of modern city life.

And that’s the dilemma of our times: safety versus freedom, progress versus passion.

What Happens Next?

Expect tougher enforcement on bus lanes, expanded pedestrianisation, and reduced kerb parking.
If you drive into Midtown or Downtown Manhattan, it’s going to cost you more – not just financially, but in patience.

Mamdani’s term will likely redefine what it means to drive in a major city. The question is whether the rest of the world follows – and whether car culture adapts, or rebels.

Zohran Mamdani isn’t out to destroy car culture. But he’s definitely not joining us at Cars & Coffee anytime soon.
He represents a new generation of urban leadership – one that views cars as a problem to be managed rather than a passion to be celebrated.

That might make sense politically. But for millions of motorists – from New York to London and beyond – it feels like we’re losing not just road space, but a piece of our identity.

So, what do you think? Is Mamdani anti-car, or just pro-people?
Join the conversation in the comments below – and watch my full video breakdown on YouTube.

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