WNYC is calling on New Yorkers to go outside and count the SUVs in their 'hood as part of an experiment in getting citizens involved in the reporting process.

Sez their website:

This our experiment in "crowdsourcing," where we employ you, the listener, in an act of journalism. We're trying to find out just how much gas-guzzling SUV use there is throughout the New York area, with all the talk of environmental sustainability in the city.

So you go out and report, then leave a comment with 1) your neighborhood, 2) your block (street and cross street) 3) the number of SUVs parked 4) the total number of cars parked. Nearly 300 people have checked in so far, and the results are pretty fascinating. You'd think that SUVs are the curse of sprawling suburbs and that no one in their right mind would want to drive, let alone park, an SUV in New York. But no, not so much.

The informal survey continues through today, so if you're a Gristmill reader in NYC, represent, yo.