Saving parking spots on city streets (Boston: neighborhoods, legal, moving)

[TechieTransplant]

Hello friends, just wanted to touch base with you on a subject that is heating up on the Pittsburgh boards. In the city of Pittsburgh, those who have to park on the city streets will place a chair or some other ridiculous object to save their spot when they leave. Those who support this feel if they spent hours shovelling snow off of the spot that they have rights to it. I think it's ridiculous, there are certain facts you have to face when parking on the street.


So does this happen in Boston? If so, do residents respect this?

[Hopes]

Boston actually has an ordinance that makes it legal to save parking spaces during declared snow emergencies up until 48 hours after the snow emergency has ended.

[felicitev21]

I saw on the news that Boston was making it so the saving of spaces was not allowed anymore? And that city trash collectors would be going around and removing the space saver? Or is this only applicable after the 48 hour ordinance? Also, I think that using a space saver is perfectly reasonable. Why should you spend your time and energy shoveling for some a-hole to come take your space? Parking is pretty limited in Boston. Even in designated "resident sticker only" zones it is tough. Even if there was no "space-savers" your chance of finding a parking spot is about 20%.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by felicitev21

I saw on the news that Boston was making it so the saving of spaces was not allowed anymore? And that city trash collectors would be going around and removing the space saver? Or is this only applicable after the 48 hour ordinance? Also, I think that using a space saver is perfectly reasonable. Why should you spend your time and energy shoveling for some a-hole to come take your space? Parking is pretty limited in Boston. Even in designated "resident sticker only" zones it is tough. Even if there was no "space-savers" your chance of finding a parking spot is about 20%.

With all that the Boston Police have to deal with, I can't imagine how they could possibly manage how long a marker has been up. One repeat theme that I am seeing from posting in other forums is that people do this but it's not really respected, which was my question all along.

[CaseyB]

See this thread:

//www.city-data.com/forum/bosto...r-parking.html

[Cliff Clavin]

Although I now have off street parking, I've used the practice of saving my space with a chair or what-not for years. I think it's an excellent system, and has always been respected by the neighborhood. It's quite civil.

And every year the city says it's going to crack down, but they're bluffing. I've never seen them take any action what's so ever.

[holden125]

This comes up every year. Every year the mayor or council says that it's not legal, and every year there's holy hell in Southie and some other neighborhoods and the city backs down.

It's not always civil. It is respected because the consequences of not respecting it are severe. People who disregard someone's chair and park in a saved spot frequently come back to find their tires slashed or their windows smashed. Whatever the official rule there's a code that a lot of people take very seriously.

[miu]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

Hello friends, just wanted to touch base with you on a subject that is heating up on the Pittsburgh boards. In the city of Pittsburgh, those who have to park on the city streets will place a chair or some other ridiculous object to save their spot when they leave. Those who support this feel if they spent hours shovelling snow off of the spot that they have rights to it. I think it's ridiculous, there are certain facts you have to face when parking on the street.


So does this happen in Boston? If so, do residents respect this?

Just out of curiousity... are you someone that shovels out a parking spot properly? Or do you just do the minimal amount of effort to get your car in and out of a snow covered parking spot? From your post, it doesn't sound like you've ever make the effort to shovel out a parking space on a public street out... so of course, you would think it ridiculous that anyone would feel possessive over a shoveled out parking space.

Otherwise, it'd be really nice if every car owner had a decent shovel in their vehicle, and then when it snowed, took the effort to shovel out the parking spot properly. If everyone could do that, the parking situation in the wintertime would be better and there would more decently cleared spaces to park in. I hate shoveling slackers!! But fortunately, I've had my own driveway for about 20 years now.

The best situation is when the cities declare snow emergencies and order all parked cars and vehicles off the streets so that they can clear all the excess snow away completely. And they should tow away any cars left on the streets during these snow emergencies.

[Coolhand68]

I've seen residents saving parking spots in the North End using garbage cans or chairs, and I've been told it would be unwise to park there unless you want your paint job keyed or tires flattened. In my old Brooklyn neighborhood it was done all the time, and removing the garbage can and parking there was a sure way to end up in a tussle.

[miu]

The Boston Globe did a humourous photo spread on parking space markers. This one, number 15, is my favorite...

Winter guide to parking-spot savers in Boston - Boston.com