[Carfreeliving] enforcement

[Hitesh Soneji]

I don't think the opinions here are all that black and white.
What we are asking for is a little respect in terms of how
people use their vehicles. The sidewalk is the public space
intended for non vehicular mobility: _walking_. It is not a
permanent parking space, nor a playground for bicyclists.

I have owned a car and a motorcycle in the past, and also in
this city. I have never thought of parking on the sidewalk. I
think in the minds of most people, the sidewalk is for
_walking_ and not for parking. I can not understand how
people have come to think that sidewalk parking is
acceptable.

Having said that, I do understand the need for deliveries and
temporary parking in driveways. I have been on my street long
enough to know who the people are that are dropping goods off
or running their errands while parked on the sidewalk. I have
never called in these folks.

On the flip side, there are those who park repeatedly in
business driveways during off hours for extended periods of
time without any concern for the sidewalk space they occupy.
They are so close to the 'gate' that even I have to turn
sideways to get by. This is too much. And then, I do call. 

If there was a friendly, more effective way to communicate my
point and modify these people's parking behavior, I would do
so. But thus far, no more effective method has come to my
mind.

Hitesh

--- Bert Hill <echill at sfhills.org> wrote:
> At the risk of losing my anti-car credential, I'll mention
> two situations
> that may call for some flexibility:
> 
> 1) My wife recently had surgery, and was confined to a
> wheelchair. At
> various times I had difficulty finding places to pick her
> up and load the
> wheelchair. I was forced to violate my own rules on double
> parking and
> sidewalk blocking as I went inside in to get her.
> 
> 2) We had a Ford Th!nk electric car for a short period
> (before Ford $#*&^
> recalled it). I didn't really think about it when I got it,
> but soon
> realized that I couldn't park it safely on the street while
> it was charging
> at night. It did fit in the driveway and didn't obstruct
> the sidewalk at
> all, but I was technically in violation for parking in the
> driveway. Still,
> it bothered me.
> 
> I realize that 95% of sidewalk and double parking violaters
> are
> inconsiderate jerks, but I also suspect some may have
> thought the same of
> me; so now I at least hesitate for a second to consider if
> there is a
> justification....then call DPT.
> 
> In the vein of a discussion on sidewalk parking, a neighbor
> tells me that it
> is technically illegal to park my bicycle on the sidewalk. 
> Mike, is that
> true?
> 
> Bert
> 
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: Carfreeliving-bounces at livablecity.org
> [mailto:Carfreeliving-bounces at livablecity.org] On Behalf Of
> Mike Sallaberry
> Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2005 1:43 PM
> To: Carfreeliving at livablecity.org
> Subject: [Carfreeliving] enforcement (was: Muni tokens)
> 
> 
> 
> Well, you have only so much peanut butter to spread, and a
> lot of bread to
> cover.  If we make a big campaign to focus on bus stop
> parking violations,
> we lose resources in other areas, like enforcing sidewalk
> parking,
> preventing double parking on bus routes or in bike lanes,
> etc etc. 
> 
> For instance, the person who lives on Hayes St near
> Divisadero who has made
> it their personal quest to call in and have every
> motorcycle parked on the
> 15' wide sidewalk ticketed is taking resources away from
> what I think are
> bigger problems.  And yes, I was one of those people to get
> a $100
> ticket...thanks so much.  Prior to that, someone (the same
> person?) was kind
> enough to put a U-lock around my front wheel, undoubtedly
> seen as an
> appropriate punishment befitting such a heinous crime, at
> least from their
> righteous point of view. 
> 
> Yes, I know that motorcycles can leak oil and are hot right
> after operation,
> but what if they don't and are covered and are not in the
> actual sidewalk
> space people walk?  Is it really worth calling in? 
> 
> Thanks.  I don't care if you agree with what I said...I
> needed that.  :) 
> Mike
> 
> ps  Does anyone else think it's fair that 3' wide, 400lb
> motorcycles are
> ticketed the same amount as 3000 lb cars that block the
> entire sidewalk and
> damage the concrete?  I don't mind parking on the street,
> but I do mind my
> bike getting knocked over by one of the many inept motor
> vehicle operators,
> most probably recently transplanted from a suburb where
> parallel parking
> means pulling your weekday car in next to your weekend car
> in the double
> wide home garage. 
> 
> pps Don't worry Suzahna...I know it wasn't you that called
> in! 
> 
> > ...
> > Why doesn't DPT (aka MTA)  start enforcing bus stop
> parking 
> > violations? Who would the lobby be that would fight that?
> 
> > Politically, I don't get it.
> > 
> > suzahna
> > _______________________________________________
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