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Not only do I not believe you have a right to claim public property, I also disagree with the entire notion that you "dug out that spot". You may have spent an hour digging, but it was not to create a parking spot. You dugbecause you needed to move your car, and digging was the only way to accomplish that. It's not as if you walked up to a snowdrift and dug out a space to place your car.
True-and it's not like other cars on the road didn't dig themselves out (unless they have a garage).
In my neighborhood it seems the first 2-3 days after a snowfall spots are respected, but after that anything goes. Some think one or two inches of snow gives them the right to save the same spot all Winter.
This does happen in Philly, especially see this in South Philly. Most times it seems it is with older folks from the neighborhood and many times older females and generally I accepted as they have more need for a close pot in tight parking areas
Not only do I not believe you have a right to claim public property, I also disagree with the entire notion that you "dug out that spot". You may have spent an hour digging, but it was not to create a parking spot. You dugbecause you needed to move your car, and digging was the only way to accomplish that. It's not as if you walked up to a snowdrift and dug out a space to place your car.
It really doesn't matter what you "believe".
According to http://www.cityofboston.gov you are allowed to claim "public property" for up to 48 hours after a snow emergency. Hopefully that is enough time for the snow to melt and for a significant amount of on-street parking space to open up, provided that the weather is good and your neighbors are timely about shoveling out their spots.
Furthermore the argument that the time and effort spent digging your car out are irrelevant because you dug your car out is just absurd. That's like saying that the money you used to buy your toothbrush was worthless because you needed to brush your teeth and buying a toothbrush was the only way to accomplish that. Should someone be able to steal your toothbrush because it isn't worth anything? How silly!
According to http://www.cityofboston.gov you are allowed to claim "public property" for up to 48 hours after a snow emergency. Hopefully that is enough time for the snow to melt and for a significant amount of on-street parking space to open up, provided that the weather is good and your neighbors are timely about shoveling out their spots.
Furthermore the argument that the time and effort spent digging your car out are irrelevant because you dug your car out is just absurd. That's like saying that the money you used to buy your toothbrush was worthless because you needed to brush your teeth and buying a toothbrush was the only way to accomplish that. Should someone be able to steal your toothbrush because it isn't worth anything? How silly!
The 48 hour law is misunderstood. It simply says if you mark a spot, the city will not discard your chair or charge you with illegal dumping, for 48 hours. You have no ownership right of the parking spot.
Frankly, the argument that you are entitled to public property, simply because you occupied before the snow began is absurd. Your reward for your labor is the ability to move your car. Nothing more, nothing less.
Philly, Boston and Pittsburgh all have reputations for this. I don't know of other cities where its as common. You would think it would be in snowier cities like Minneapolis, Buffalo, and Cleveland, but that doesnt seem to be the case.
It's fine if you're going out for a bit to run an errand; not fine if you're going to work for 8 hours.
Philly, Boston and Pittsburgh all have reputations for this. I don't know of other cities where its as common. You would think it would be in snowier cities like Minneapolis, Buffalo, and Cleveland, but that doesnt seem to be the case.
It's fine if you're going out for a bit to run an errand; not fine if you're going to work for 8 hours.
Lived in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Denver. These are pretty snowy cities and we do not reserve parking spots. I don't think I have even seen anyone do this before.
You shovel out a spot to initially get your car out, that's it. We don't complain when we come back from work only to have to park in another snowy spot...its just part of living here in winter. And in Milwaukee, we have the (odd day one side, even day the other side) parking rule across the city, so you have to move your car every 24 hours anyway. In my college neighborhood I would have to keep a shovel in my car knowing that I would have to dig out another spot when I got home. I've been through plenty of 2" snow falls, it does not take 2 hours to dig out a car, even in the most wet and heavy snow possible, it's 30 mins tops.
I don't know...get better winter clothing and accept that you live in a winter climate?
The one upside I miss about Milwaukee is that because everyone is moving their cars every 24 hours to different sides of the street, it allows the plows to completely clear the roads by not having to go around cars. So even if it snow a few feet, the road will be totally clear after 24 hours.
Lived in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Denver. These are pretty snowy cities and we do not reserve parking spots. I don't think I have even seen anyone do this before.
You shovel out a spot to initially get your car out, that's it. We don't complain when we come back from work only to have to park in another snowy spot...its just part of living here in winter. And in Milwaukee, we have the (odd day one side, even day the other side) parking rule across the city, so you have to move your car every 24 hours anyway. In my college neighborhood I would have to keep a shovel in my car knowing that I would have to dig out another spot when I got home. I've been through plenty of 2" snow falls, it does not take 2 hours to dig out a car, even in the most wet and heavy snow possible, it's 30 mins tops.
I don't know...get better winter clothing and accept that you live in a winter climate?
The one upside I miss about Milwaukee is that because everyone is moving their cars every 24 hours to different sides of the street, it allows the plows to completely clear the roads by not having to go around cars. So even if it snow a few feet, the road will be totally clear after 24 hours.
I find it interesting that Chicago observes the practice, but Milwaukee doesn't.
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