Comments on: No Parking Slope http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:42:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: nick http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-31482 nick Tue, 08 May 2007 15:21:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-31482 i have no problem parking north of union street i have no problem parking north of union street

]]> By: v http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-31390 v Fri, 04 May 2007 21:19:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-31390 based on the caption, seems like people who aren't white and walk around park slope must be nannies :-( grumble. that's no good. also, is paul steely white asleep or meditating? based on the caption, seems like people who aren't white and walk around park slope must be nannies :-( grumble. that's no good.

also, is paul steely white asleep or meditating?

]]> By: da http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29726 da Thu, 08 Mar 2007 19:35:31 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29726 Thought I'd do my own informal study while walking the dog and selected a block at random (7th Ave. btwn 7th/8th, east side). Results: 7 legally parked vehicles 5 illegally parked vehicles (two double parked, two on top of a hydrant, and one expired meter). Thought I'd do my own informal study while walking the dog and selected a block at random (7th Ave. btwn 7th/8th, east side). Results:

7 legally parked vehicles
5 illegally parked vehicles (two double parked, two on top of a hydrant, and one expired meter).

]]> By: under90K http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29516 under90K Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:16:05 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29516 One problem I see living here is that there are all these fire plugs not in use that subtract 15 feet. Also then the lack of yellow curb painting to show how much fifteen feet is so people know not to waste space... My point is there is some wasted space out there Another thing is that there could be some increased service on the B71 across Union street that would encourage more people from other 'hoods to MTA it. The fact that it stops running all the way across after 9:30 PM is just archaic.. I am thankfull for the one day a week alternate side parking that is around my over privileged area. You gotta know how to PLAY or you must PAY. FYI: Garage Parking in the N Slope is around 400 a month. One problem I see living here is that there are all these fire plugs not in use that subtract 15 feet. Also then the lack of yellow curb painting to show how much fifteen feet is so people know not to waste space... My point is there is some wasted space out there
Another thing is that there could be some increased service on the B71 across Union street that would encourage more people from other 'hoods to MTA it. The fact that it stops running all the way across after 9:30 PM is just archaic..
I am thankfull for the one day a week alternate side parking that is around my over privileged area.
You gotta know how to PLAY or you must PAY.
FYI: Garage Parking in the N Slope is around 400 a month.

]]> By: Sloper-born http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29466 Sloper-born Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:21:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29466 SUVs and minivans take up more space than regular cars. So there are actually fewer vehicles that can park per block than 15 years ago. That, and more residents have more money, so they have cars. And if you think parking permits are the answer, talk to someone in Hoboken. SUVs and minivans take up more space than regular cars. So there are actually fewer vehicles that can park per block than 15 years ago. That, and more residents have more money, so they have cars. And if you think parking permits are the answer, talk to someone in Hoboken.

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29427 Angus Grieve-Smith Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:15:59 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29427 I lived in Park Slope for two years. In terms of a sense of entitlement, T.A. has nothing on the motorists who drive down Seventh Avenue. Clarence's post has the right perspective. I lived in Park Slope for two years. In terms of a sense of entitlement, T.A. has nothing on the motorists who drive down Seventh Avenue. Clarence's post has the right perspective.

]]> By: MD http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29426 MD Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:03:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29426 I'm not trying to stereotype anyone. Demanding the right to use public space and exclude others from it suggests a very strong sense of entitlement. Talk to local drivers, read the local papers, pay attention to what goes on at the community boards, listen to the local politicians pander to motorists, and the word fanatical might not seem so over the top. I'm not trying to stereotype anyone. Demanding the right to use public space and exclude others from it suggests a very strong sense of entitlement. Talk to local drivers, read the local papers, pay attention to what goes on at the community boards, listen to the local politicians pander to motorists, and the word fanatical might not seem so over the top.

]]> By: South Slope http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29403 South Slope Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:58:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29403 If you have a car in NYC, you have to resign yourself to paying for a place to keep it: rent an off-street parking space for (in the South Slope) around $250/mo., or invest a half hour or more driving around the neighborhood looking for a "free" curbside space. If you don't need to use a car every day, Zipcar seems like a better option. I always thought a hop-on/hop-off trolley or, more practically, a shuttle bus running (much more frequently than the 67) on 7th Ave. between, say, Prospect Ave. and Flatbush, would go a long way to reducing private vehicular congestion while moving more local shoppers in and out. Or maybe the merchants on 7th and on 5th could get together (as a BID) behind a loop around 9th St.-5th Ave.-Union-7th. If you have a car in NYC, you have to resign yourself to paying for a place to keep it: rent an off-street parking space for (in the South Slope) around $250/mo., or invest a half hour or more driving around the neighborhood looking for a "free" curbside space. If you don't need to use a car every day, Zipcar seems like a better option. I always thought a hop-on/hop-off trolley or, more practically, a shuttle bus running (much more frequently than the 67) on 7th Ave. between, say, Prospect Ave. and Flatbush, would go a long way to reducing private vehicular congestion while moving more local shoppers in and out. Or maybe the merchants on 7th and on 5th could get together (as a BID) behind a loop around 9th St.-5th Ave.-Union-7th.

]]> By: JK http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29402 JK Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:50:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29402 Clearly there are great complexities in bringing residential parking permits to NYC. You can see why the City doesnt want to do it. Politically easier is working towards a 15% curb occupancy in business districts. (Incidentally, why cant DOT just raise meter rates in areas where that would enjoy support, like the CBD?) Agreed there is no particular policy logic in only seeking curb vacancy on retail strips. Double parking, and commercial vehicles getting ticketed, on residential streets is clearly a problem in many neighborhoods. Clearly there are great complexities in bringing residential parking permits to NYC. You can see why the City doesnt want to do it. Politically easier is working towards a 15% curb occupancy in business districts. (Incidentally, why cant DOT just raise meter rates in areas where that would enjoy support, like the CBD?)

Agreed there is no particular policy logic in only seeking curb vacancy on retail strips. Double parking, and commercial vehicles getting ticketed, on residential streets is clearly a problem in many neighborhoods.

]]> By: Market Mike http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29400 Market Mike Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:42:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29400 MD: I agree with #16, that stereotyping isn't helping. Who cares about the sense of entitlement? Let's think of power- and there isn't enough of a voter base to sway this issue, given bigger the fish (education, terrorism, stadiums in the middle of Brooklyn) to fry. I like the vouchers, but without a market mechanism, I see a repeat of rent control/stabilization and the subsequent problems in restricting housing supply. We haven't been able to resolve that, so why create another monster? MD: I agree with #16, that stereotyping isn't helping. Who cares about the sense of entitlement? Let's think of power- and there isn't enough of a voter base to sway this issue, given bigger the fish (education, terrorism, stadiums in the middle of Brooklyn) to fry.

I like the vouchers, but without a market mechanism, I see a repeat of rent control/stabilization and the subsequent problems in restricting housing supply. We haven't been able to resolve that, so why create another monster?

]]> By: Clarence http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29399 Clarence Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:46:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29399 Back when I was chair of the Brooklyn T.A. Committee, I believe we used to use 1990 census data that basically said that only about 1/3rd (I think it came out to 34% or 35%) of all households owned a car in Park Slope/Brooklyn Heights/Carroll Gardens area. I know citywide the numbers decreased in 2000 meaning there should be even fewer car owners as a percentage. No comment here, just throwing that out there for people to bite on. Back when I was chair of the Brooklyn T.A. Committee, I believe we used to use 1990 census data that basically said that only about 1/3rd (I think it came out to 34% or 35%) of all households owned a car in Park Slope/Brooklyn Heights/Carroll Gardens area.

I know citywide the numbers decreased in 2000 meaning there should be even fewer car owners as a percentage.

No comment here, just throwing that out there for people to bite on.

]]> By: Fascinated http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29398 Fascinated Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:27:58 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29398 MD: Thanks for taking my criticism with a grain of salt. The substance of what you say is smart, with the exception of the lazy stereotyping. People in Brooklyn have are fanatics about their parking spaces? What could that possibly mean? And we have a sense of entitlement? Yeah, that forced double-park for the street-cleaning days really makes me feel entitled. Circling the block for 45 minutes when I've made the mistake of using the car on a Sunday afternoon and all that's left are Monday spots: now THAT's a sense of entitlement. The sense of entitlement extends to EVERY group you can name in New York. As a daily bike commuter, I'd say that pedestrians have the most outsize sense of entitlement. And you could probably break that down by race and socioeconomic group . . . if you were so inclined. MD: Thanks for taking my criticism with a grain of salt. The substance of what you say is smart, with the exception of the lazy stereotyping. People in Brooklyn have are fanatics about their parking spaces? What could that possibly mean? And we have a sense of entitlement? Yeah, that forced double-park for the street-cleaning days really makes me feel entitled. Circling the block for 45 minutes when I've made the mistake of using the car on a Sunday afternoon and all that's left are Monday spots: now THAT's a sense of entitlement.
The sense of entitlement extends to EVERY group you can name in New York. As a daily bike commuter, I'd say that pedestrians have the most outsize sense of entitlement. And you could probably break that down by race and socioeconomic group . . . if you were so inclined.

]]> By: MD http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29397 MD Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:06:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29397 Fascinated. I don't read the Style section. I must have picked up my stereotypes from the news sections. Oh wait, is it the Style section that occasionally runs those sneering articles about the Food Coop? Uptight, rule-happy organic food fanatics, that's what the Slopers are! Bartles and Mike, market rate parking would certainly be better, but it will never sell. People in this part of Brooklyn, like elsewhere, are fanatics about their parking spaces and have a huge sense of entitlement about them. Permits are a way to feed their sense of entitlement but still reducing traffic. Once you get the surrounding neighborhoods to follow suit, everyone's trapped. The best we can hope for is to push for a reasonable fee for the permits. Fascinated. I don't read the Style section. I must have picked up my stereotypes from the news sections. Oh wait, is it the Style section that occasionally runs those sneering articles about the Food Coop? Uptight, rule-happy organic food fanatics, that's what the Slopers are!

Bartles and Mike, market rate parking would certainly be better, but it will never sell. People in this part of Brooklyn, like elsewhere, are fanatics about their parking spaces and have a huge sense of entitlement about them. Permits are a way to feed their sense of entitlement but still reducing traffic. Once you get the surrounding neighborhoods to follow suit, everyone's trapped. The best we can hope for is to push for a reasonable fee for the permits.

]]> By: Market Mike http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29396 Market Mike Wed, 28 Feb 2007 03:42:12 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29396 Given the fixed amount of available parking, awarding vouchers will just lead to hoarding and ridiculous entitled behavior. Obviously there is an easy market solution: Auction off bi-annual "residential" parking vouchers. Those who live nearby will certainly be willing to pay more. Proceeds can go to public transportation, or better yet, to supporting road maintainence, because this is NYC and having your car here is a luxury that my taxes pay for... Can't afford it? Too bad, this is NYC. Given the fixed amount of available parking, awarding vouchers will just lead to hoarding and ridiculous entitled behavior.

Obviously there is an easy market solution:

Auction off bi-annual "residential" parking vouchers. Those who live nearby will certainly be willing to pay more.

Proceeds can go to public transportation, or better yet, to supporting road maintainence, because this is NYC and having your car here is a luxury that my taxes pay for... Can't afford it? Too bad, this is NYC.

]]> By: Bartles http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29395 Bartles Wed, 28 Feb 2007 03:36:12 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29395 Re: parking permits. What happens during the day when some of the residents drive to work? Why not allow other people to park there? New Yorkers can drive on all New York City streets, why shouldn't they be able to park on them? (Not for free, but the point is, why should streets belong to locals?) I still don't understand the parking permits fixation. As for market-rate curbside parking - DUH! Re: parking permits. What happens during the day when some of the residents drive to work? Why not allow other people to park there? New Yorkers can drive on all New York City streets, why shouldn't they be able to park on them? (Not for free, but the point is, why should streets belong to locals?) I still don't understand the parking permits fixation. As for market-rate curbside parking - DUH!

]]> By: Fascinated http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29394 Fascinated Wed, 28 Feb 2007 03:14:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29394 It is really disconcerting to hear people who post on this really smart blog so casually tossing around stereotypes. You sound like Entertainment Weekly caption writers, or reporters on the Times Styles pages. Stop yourself! To describe Park Slope or ANY Brooklyn neighborhood in such shorthand proves only one thing; you obviously don't live there. I'm sure you've walked around and seen all the priviliged white people shopping with impunity — but weren't you one of them? Nobody who lives in Park Slope shops when the tourists are out in force, friend. It is really disconcerting to hear people who post on this really smart blog so casually tossing around stereotypes. You sound like Entertainment Weekly caption writers, or reporters on the Times Styles pages. Stop yourself! To describe Park Slope or ANY Brooklyn neighborhood in such shorthand proves only one thing; you obviously don't live there. I'm sure you've walked around and seen all the priviliged white people shopping with impunity — but weren't you one of them? Nobody who lives in Park Slope shops when the tourists are out in force, friend.

]]> By: Alison http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29392 Alison Wed, 28 Feb 2007 01:11:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29392 Seventh Avenue is becoming commercially unviable as a shopping street. I will go to Sunset Park, Boro Park, or almost anywhere else first. Seventh Avenue is becoming commercially unviable as a shopping street. I will go to Sunset Park, Boro Park, or almost anywhere else first.

]]> By: Nicolo Macchiavelli http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29391 Nicolo Macchiavelli Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:44:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29391 Complex issue completely muddled in this exchange. A little Shoup is a dangerous thing, drink deep or taste not of that spring. Complex issue completely muddled in this exchange. A little Shoup is a dangerous thing, drink deep or taste not of that spring.

]]> By: MD http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29390 MD Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:08:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29390 Wait, doesn't the Times describe Park Slope as being composed mainly of aging hippies with graying ponytails wearing Birkenstocks and tiedyes? Or is that stereotype a few years old? I guess it's pierced, tatooed, hipster parents now. Or is that Williamsburg? Anyway, I think parking permits are a good idea, but why not sell them to anyone willing to pay a good price for them? I don't like the idea of local residents being more entitled to the space than people who work there. Wait, doesn't the Times describe Park Slope as being composed mainly of aging hippies with graying ponytails wearing Birkenstocks and tiedyes? Or is that stereotype a few years old? I guess it's pierced, tatooed, hipster parents now. Or is that Williamsburg?

Anyway, I think parking permits are a good idea, but why not sell them to anyone willing to pay a good price for them? I don't like the idea of local residents being more entitled to the space than people who work there.

]]> By: rlb http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29389 rlb Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:40:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/27/no-parking-slope/#comment-29389 JK, if you're going to put some metered spots on the side streets, why not make all the spots metered and give those with permits exemption? And with regards to permit costs, it seems important that people pay for the size of their car. A Minicouper owner shouldn't pay the same for a permit as an owner of a full sized SUV - may even inspire a hint of modesty upon the priveleged few. JK, if you're going to put some metered spots on the side streets, why not make all the spots metered and give those with permits exemption?

And with regards to permit costs, it seems important that people pay for the size of their car. A Minicouper owner shouldn't pay the same for a permit as an owner of a full sized SUV - may even inspire a hint of modesty upon the priveleged few.

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