Most people driving in are not poor - if you’re truly poor, you can’t afford the cost of car ownership at all, and if you’re in the lower income brackets you’re likely to take transit because it’s still a big chunk of your income – and the article notes that there are discounts for low-income drivers:
> As for discounts, low-income drivers who make less than $50,000 annually can apply to receive half off the daytime toll after their first 10 trips in a calendar month. In addition, low-income residents of the congestion zone who make less than $60,000 a year can apply for a state tax credit.
And I learned today that NYC has a 50%-off program for low-income transit users ("Fair Fares"). That makes taking a bus or the subway incredibly cheap.
> As for discounts, low-income drivers who make less than $50,000 annually can apply to receive half off the daytime toll after their first 10 trips in a calendar month. In addition, low-income residents of the congestion zone who make less than $60,000 a year can apply for a state tax credit.