> non-commercial drivers subsidize non-drivers by paying fuel and other taxes that pay for roads.
The costs of roads are far from fully paid out of those taxes though. So non-drivers are also subsidizing commercial drivers extensively in practice.
> Commercial (semis et al) benefit everyone (especially non-drivers that depend on commercial drivers bringing in goods to them from outside the city)
Only to the extent that their shipping is providing value, and it's hard to assess that given the distorting subsidy that they're getting. They might be outcompeting more efficient alternative modes of transport, or they might be making marginal-benefit deliveries that actually aren't worth the road wear and space that they're taking up if those costs were fully accounted for.
> Non-drivers in NYC are taking drivers for a fiscal ride
Nonsense. The land value of roads alone is a huge implicit subsidy to drivers.
The costs of roads are far from fully paid out of those taxes though. So non-drivers are also subsidizing commercial drivers extensively in practice.
> Commercial (semis et al) benefit everyone (especially non-drivers that depend on commercial drivers bringing in goods to them from outside the city)
Only to the extent that their shipping is providing value, and it's hard to assess that given the distorting subsidy that they're getting. They might be outcompeting more efficient alternative modes of transport, or they might be making marginal-benefit deliveries that actually aren't worth the road wear and space that they're taking up if those costs were fully accounted for.
> Non-drivers in NYC are taking drivers for a fiscal ride
Nonsense. The land value of roads alone is a huge implicit subsidy to drivers.