They’re paving my street this morning.
Yesterday, the Department of Transportation (DOT) posted signs about roadwork and no parking. My busy, overdeveloped, main street had suddenly become a 6am – 6pm tow-away zone.
Now, I have to tell you, parking here is a major issue. When one is lucky enough to get a spot in front of their own home, it’s the envy of the neighborhood. And THEN, when that person has to leave that spot, they usually beg a friend or family member with a driveway to tag them. They pull out, the friend pulls in. When they come home, the friend goes back to their own driveway, and they get their spot back. It’s a never ending cycle. People have even followed me in their cars like a cat stalking prey as I’ve walked to the corner deli. You know they’re not looking to kidnap or hurt you. They just want your parking space. I’ve had to stop and tell them, “Sorry… I’m not pulling out of anywhere.”
So, when at 6:30am today, the DOT trucks inched up our block and spoke in clear and heavy New York accents over the loudspeaker saying, “If you have a car parked on this street, move it or it’s gonna be towed”, I have to be honest and say, some of us would have preferred a towing to searching for some other spot for our cars. At least with a tow, the car would have a place, out of view, to rest without worry of being stripped or stolen.
Today? Well, we were lucky enough to spy a spot last night and can just about see it on the side street at the corner. Tonight? Well… you can bet everyone who is in town will be racing to get onto the street at exactly 6 so they can reclaim their spot or occupy someone else’s… I’ll be taking my wheel lock off by 5:30 so when 6:00 comes, I can make the switch that much quicker. For those not in town by six tonight? Well, trust me, they’re going to be stressing all the way home about where they’re going to put their car since all the good spots will be taken by the time they get there.
Ah, city life. Love it or hate it, it’s always a challenge.
What’s the greatest challenge in your neck of the woods?
This does not sound like fun. I live in the country and can park my car anywhere I want–except the lawn, the garden, the corrals, etc. Plus I have a garage. I am SO blessed. LOL.
Linda
It’s not fun, Linda. Not at all. But… guess what? It’s now 6:01 and I got my spot back!! Woo-hoo!! LOL. See? Contrary to what most people believe, New Yorkers can indeed be happy people… when they get their way. 😉
~Debbie
Oh, gosh, Debbie, that sounds like a nightmare. An enterprising entrepreneur could make money auctioning off parking spaces. Hope the road work goes quickly.
Traffic congestion is the biggest headache around here, but parking is becoming more of a problem. There are apartments nearby and it seems like everyone living there has an extra car to park in our little neighborhood. Sometimes there’s nowhere to put out our trash cans so they’ll get picked up. At least we have a driveway to park in. It helps.
Linda
Oh, gosh, Debbie, that sounds like a nightmare. An enterprising entrepreneur could make money auctioning off parking spaces. Hope the road work goes quickly.
Traffic congestion is the biggest headache around here, but parking is becoming more of a problem. There are apartments nearby and it seems like everyone living there has an extra car to park in our little neighborhood. Sometimes there’s nowhere to put out our trash cans so they’ll get picked up. At least we have a driveway to park in. It helps.
Linda
Debbie, I feel for you! Going to the store and lugging your groceries home must be hard! Now that you have your spot back, you won’t want to leave! I was driving around with one of my sons when he lived in San Francisco, and he said he has sold a spot he had on a busy Saturday near Union Square!!
Lyndi,
We have that same multi-car issue here. And worse is when developers buy single-family homes, knock them down and build multi-family homes on the same single lot. Now where there were two cars, there are now six or eight. It’s truly awful.
Kathleen,
I LOVE the idea of selling a spot. And you know what? There are people around here who rent out their driveways. I think it’s like $100-200 a month. They’ve even built townhouses on one of the side-streets here that are selling for nearly $650,000 but if you want a parking spot behind the building, that’s an additional $35,000. Truth!
~Debbie
Oy! And I thought the monthly street cleaning was a pain! I have lived places that have limited parking and you’re right, you have to be quick, smart and have a good strategy. Parking at the beach is like that. I found the perfect parking place that is almost always available. Then I told my friend about it and now she parks there! I’m never revealing my secret again!!!