Parking is like a sport in the city — and not a fun one.

“It’s an hour of my life minimum," said Peter Trezza, who works above 60th Street.

Those who work and live just above the congestion zone in Manhattan say they worry there will be more competition for parking once congestion pricing takes effect.

“If I lived in New Jersey or Westchester and I had to come into the city," said Upper West Side resident Joan Kagan, "I would park on the Upper West Side or the Upper East Side to avoid a really high toll.”

“It’s tough enough as it is," said Upper West Side resident Cliff Korn.

Some say the solution is residential parking permits. It has the support of politicians, like City Councilmember Carmen de la Rosa. 

Her district includes the George Washington Bridge and where she says cars with out-of-state plates park everywhere. She and six other councilmembers have proposed legislation to pilot a residential parking program.

“We’re trying to alleviate a problem that when I walk down my community every single day I hear about: How horrible it is to find parking, hard it is to find parking," said De La Rosa. "And in the meantime, my community is suffering from cars that are idling and continuously going around and around in the morning.”

But it needs approval from Albany first, and even then, it doesn’t guarantee a spot. Former New York City Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz says most cars with out-of-state plates belong to residents, and permits aren’t needed to keep commuters away.

“To think about it that a driver would come from Stamford, Connecticut, all the way down, fight the traffic, then try to find on-street parking, which will take, good luck, maybe 30, 40, 50 minutes," said Schwartz. "And then have to pay nearly $6 to take the subway down if that’s how they elect. So, we’re not going to see any dramatic changes in parking.”

The MTA’s own environmental assessment found that “although there could initially be some modest level of vehicular traffic searching for parking in neighborhoods outside the Manhattan CBD [Central Business District] to avoid the toll, the behavior would most likely be short-lived as part of the adjustment process.”

Schwartz said garages will play a part too in deterring drivers.

“The garages that are just north of 60th Street probably will raise their prices," said Schwartz. "And the ones just south of 60th Street will probably lower their prices.”

The Metropolitan Parking Association, which represents garages across the city, wouldn’t say, but predicts decreased demand.

“…We are deeply concerned that the entire parking ecosystem will be upended in a negative way,” Rafael Llopiz, the president of the parking association, said in part in a statement. “Residents and drivers are reeling from inflation, the economy remains fragile…. Congestion Pricing will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”

Schwartz believes, however, all the fears over what may happen will not be the reality.

“In every place that’s implemented, in London, in Stockholm, in Milan, in Singapore and other cities, people have accepted it," said Schwartz. "And right before it went in, people panicked. And that’s where we are right now.”

Under the congestion pricing law, the city’s Department of Transportation must study the toll’s effects, if any, on parking and issue a report within 18 months of implementation.