The report by Transportation Alternatives described in “Mayor’s Parking ‘Offense’ ” (Oct. 14) is highly misleading.

The report suggests that, by requiring some off-street parking in residential neighborhoods, city government is encouraging people to drive into Manhattan for work. But this study fails to prove that at all.

The journey-to-work data for the neighborhoods studied (Jackson Heights and Park Slope) indicate that very few of the residents actually drive or carpool into the central business district. In Jackson Heights, 7.8 percent of those who work in the CBD drive or carpool in, and in Park Slope 5.4 percent do.

There’s no evidence in the report of an actual connection between parking conditions and the decision to commute by car. We don’t know, for example, whether all of those commuting by car actually have an off-street parking space or not.

Let’s not base zoning regulations on unproven assumptions.

Steven Spinola

President

Real Estate Board

of New York

Manhattan