Slate of events, dignitaries, security clog NYC streets

A convergence of events has pushed the trademark gridlock and traffic in New York City to new levels, so much so that even hardened commuters and taxi drivers are finding it hard to come up with routes to skirt through the mess.

The meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, a several-days visit by President Obama, the People's Climate March, a memorial service for actress Ruby Dee and the Mexican Day Parade all have created unprecedented street closures and traffic, sending stress levels skyrocketing.

On street after street, it's not unusual to see cars lined up practically touching, police officers in yellow vests telling people they can only go down certain streets, and taxi passengers in back seats frantically dialing on cell phones or appearing exasperated.

"It's just been crazy with all the gridlock," said Michele Helfenbaum, an accountant who works near the United Nations. "It's cars backed up, lots of crowds, lots of police cars, said Helfenbaum, 38, who lives on Staten Island.

She has had to find different routes to work, walking further than usual as traffic sat at a standstill.

"I wouldn't take a cab," Helfenbaum said. "You would be stuck in gridlock and you know, they charge by the mile and also by the amount (of time) you're stopped at a light. Probably the best thing I would do is walk it or definitely take mass transit."

Mark Clinkscales, 34, said it can cost up to $10 to go two blocks in a cab because of traffic. Normally, a mile-long ride costs about that much, he said.

Clinkscales suggested another way to get around: bikes. "Just ride down one of the avenues," he said. "It's easier. Cheaper. And it's good exercise for you."

Normally, taxi drivers and passengers come armed with several alternate routes in their head when they approach a street with bumper to bumper traffic creeping along.

But the traffic of recent days has left people at a loss, going from blocked up street to blocked up street in frustration. Commuters are telling stories of normally 20-minute trips taking two hours. Even former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said on a talk show that he had seen nothing like it.

The convergence of big events and visits has created a challenge for city officials and law enforcement, security experts said.

"The problem is that the president hasn't gone in and out, he's been here for days now -- that's why the intensity continues," said New York City terrorism and security expert Manuel Gomez.

"That coupled with the fact that you have dozens of other heads of state, Occupy Wall Street folks as well as the climate change folks, that to protect businesses and allow demonstrations has a number of streets on lockdown."

International events have tipped the scale to prompt New York officials to beef up security to such a high level, said former New York police detective and security and counterterrorism expert Nicholas Casale.

"Anytime you have a sensational event such as the military involvement both in Iraq and Syria, there is always the potential that a person who is not affiliated directly or a member of a terrorist cell to react," Casale said.

"While you have the security measures for the General Assembly, you have to have additional security measures in place predominantly at transportation facilities, then to iconic targets and then to critical infrastructure, because someone who's not affiliated with a terrorist group could act impulsively and that's very dangerous," Casale said.

But there is a good side to this headache.

"You have a lot of races and a lot of different countries with their people walking with their flags in the street just repping where they live," Clinkscales said. "It is good for the city."

Businesses benefit from the additional street traffic too, an official said.

"If you're a hospitality business like a restaurant or hotel, it could be very beneficial because all the delegates go out," said Nancy Ploeger, president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. "They stay in hotels. For us, they are like tourists...It's great to bring more money into the city."