make way for the factotum ([info]in_vino_vanitas) wrote in [info]b0st0n,
2009-01-13 01:17:00
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garbage cans, recycling bins, and chairs as parking spot reservation devices

I live in Allston, in a neighbourhood with no permit-only parking. I have recently noticed that people are taking to sticking random crap into curbside parking spaces with the intent to reserve them. I sympathize with people wanting to save a spot they shovelled out for themselves, but is this sort of thing common practise? Is it some fad that will pass once someone realizes allston christmas came early and they can get a full set of patio furniture just by cruising through the neighbourhood?

I've seen it before in other cities, snow or no snow, and people have interpreted it as both douchebaggery and fair use. What say you, b0st0n?
Tags: annoyances, parking

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  • 48 comments

[info]sup3rmark

January 13 2009, 06:36:04 UTC 3 years ago

welcome to winter in boston.

feel free to move their junk, but don't be surprised if your car gets keyed (at the very least).

[info]in_vino_vanitas

January 13 2009, 06:38:43 UTC 3 years ago

if someone bothered to key my car, i would be flattered they considered it something that could be vandalized/rendered uglier

[info]wishuponakate

3 years ago

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[info]mutiny

January 13 2009, 06:38:45 UTC 3 years ago

I move them on purpose if I see them on foot, or usually just run over whatever it is, if it won't damage my vehicle.

The only thing worse than this is bums who try to sell you parking spots.

[info]wishuponakate

January 13 2009, 06:45:32 UTC 3 years ago

I can sympathise with wanting to save a spot I took the time to shovel out as well, but whenever I see a spot with a trash can/lawn chair/etc in it as I walk down the street, I move the crap to the curb to open up the spot. I don't think it's fair to save spots like that.

[info]in_vino_vanitas

January 13 2009, 06:47:35 UTC 3 years ago

i saw some spots like that, too. i interpreted them as a passive-aggressive plea not to park in the space.

shovelling is good for you, anyway.

[info]wishuponakate

3 years ago

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[info]mutiny

3 years ago

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[info]wishuponakate

3 years ago

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[info]mutiny

3 years ago

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[info]cottonmanifesto

January 13 2009, 11:38:27 UTC 3 years ago

hilarious. i'm pretty sure this has been going on as long as there have been cars and snow.

[info]in_vino_vanitas

January 13 2009, 22:16:19 UTC 3 years ago

i've just never seen it so firmly entrenched as it is here. i still don't get why people feel they are entitled to reserve a chunk of the road for themselves for months on end, but hey, when in rome...

[info]icecreamempress

3 years ago

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[info]in_vino_vanitas

3 years ago

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[info]icecreamempress

3 years ago

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[info]mr_choronzon

January 13 2009, 11:54:55 UTC 3 years ago

The problem is that once ONE PERSON parks in a space that someone else shoveled, then the person who shoveled that space has to park in someone ELSE's space, and it starts this huge chain reaction of townie rage.

I live in harvard square and work in east cambridge, and my neighborhood near harvard doesn't mark spots while east cambridge does. Whenever I drive to work and park in east cambridge, finding a spot is no easier or harder than finding a spot near harvard. I take this as objective proof that reserving spots doesn't actually accomplish anything.

[info]pushupstairs

January 13 2009, 18:33:01 UTC 3 years ago

The problem is that once ONE PERSON parks in a space that someone else shoveled, then the person who shoveled that space has to park in someone ELSE's space, and it starts this huge chain reaction of townie rage.

I don't see that as a problem. Sounds like a good way of depopulating some people who can't coexist with others.

[info]boblothrope

3 years ago

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[info]la_anah

January 13 2009, 12:15:08 UTC 3 years ago

Boston says that if you move someone's marker and park in their spot there is a high probability of having one or more of your tires slashed. And for everyone saying they move markers even if they aren't going to park there... just be aware that you are increasing the chances of having the innocent person who parked in the space later get their tires slashed. It's happened to me more than once. Seems stupid because it then takes even longer to move out of the space, but high intelligence and thinking things through aren't really factors.

That said, Mayor Menino hates the practice and will randomly send out garbage collectors to remove all markers from a neighborhood.

[info]panzerkunst

January 13 2009, 12:25:04 UTC 3 years ago

I've always hated it. I can somewhat understand it if it's for a day or two after a storm, but people seem to think they can "reserve" a spot for the whole winter now.

[info]pushupstairs

January 13 2009, 18:34:50 UTC 3 years ago

It does amuse/frustrate me when I see a broken chair in the street when there are only trace remnants of snow anywhere in the neighborhood (and certainly not anywhere near the street).

But I have a driveway so fuck 'em.

[info]limbodog

January 13 2009, 12:30:05 UTC 3 years ago

I occasionally look for new furniture in town this way. By law, once it's on the street it's trash.

I think some of the towns' mayors actually support the practice tho'.

[info]perich

January 13 2009, 12:34:46 UTC 3 years ago

Allston, you can get away with moving shit. South Boston, I wouldn't try.

[info]thetathx1138

January 13 2009, 13:10:02 UTC 3 years ago

You see, South Boston is where doing it would do the most good. Maybe use dynamite.

[info]cruella_divine

3 years ago

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[info]perich

3 years ago

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[info]fatefulcaptain

3 years ago

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[info]hillabee

3 years ago

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[info]lunarcamel

January 13 2009, 12:45:53 UTC 3 years ago

This is common practice on the east coast, yo. The lawn chair, for example, is sacred in Pittsburgh.

[info]krzdweasel

January 13 2009, 12:54:10 UTC 3 years ago

yeah, this is pretty much a well worn practice in boston. the mayor even had to change it back when he tried to do away with the practice. there were so many angry people that he let people do it for a day or two. (i can't remember the general time frame)

general rule i think is a day or two after a big storm. however, as others have said, it's an "at your own risk" situation. for example, you couldn't pay me money to move a cone and park my car there in southie.

[info]in_vino_vanitas

January 13 2009, 22:11:00 UTC 3 years ago

i still find this ridiculous - people feeling entitled to reserve totally public property for themselves. TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS!

[info]icecreamempress

3 years ago

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[info]in_vino_vanitas

3 years ago

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[info]ericjay

3 years ago

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[info]noreentry

January 13 2009, 13:08:56 UTC 3 years ago

lol in cCicago, Daley explicitly condones that practice.

[info]kayunderscore

January 13 2009, 13:29:11 UTC 3 years ago

http://hawk.heraldinteractive.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1140730

"In 2004, Menino limited the amount of time lawn chairs, cones and other items could be used to save a coveted city parking space after complaints that drivers were laying claim to public parking spaces long after the snow had melted away.

He said he would give parking space savers 48 hours after a snow emergency ends to remove their items before the city would remove them."

[info]tisiphone

January 13 2009, 13:55:35 UTC 3 years ago

It's been common practice (canonically with lawnchairs) my entire life. I'd get used to it, as it's unlikely to change.

[info]in_vino_vanitas

January 13 2009, 22:12:19 UTC 3 years ago

i suppose i will get used to it, but i still don't get why people feel they're entitled to convenient parking when (like me) they are not paying for a driveway or a permit or anything.

[info]tisiphone

3 years ago

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[info]in_vino_vanitas

3 years ago

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[info]tisiphone

3 years ago

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[info]in_vino_vanitas

3 years ago

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[info]tisiphone

3 years ago

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[info]icecreamempress

3 years ago

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[info]zanylikethat

January 13 2009, 14:32:36 UTC 3 years ago

This is making me yet more depressed that I will be moving out of my apartment with off-street parking in September. Dammit.

[info]pammipoous

January 13 2009, 17:57:58 UTC 3 years ago

When I lived in East Boston, I saw chairs marking spots well into July one year...

[info]agreenballoon

January 14 2009, 04:07:43 UTC 3 years ago

i recently got literally screamed at by a girl who's trash can was marking the spot i parked in.

when i later told my friend in new hampshire about it, she replied with, "come on, thats how people mark their spot in boston, even i know that."

peeing in the snow is just as reliable. move your stupid shit. i plan on parking wherever i can anyways.

[info]xprivate_radiox

January 14 2009, 19:08:36 UTC 3 years ago

Hell yeah. We do it where I'm from, but mostly when it snows. And we use chairs. Sometimes random traffic cones, if you're lucky enough to find one. But then again, I've seen people get out of their car, move the chair, and park there. I think it's fair though.
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