Brooklyn Etiquette: Parking Edition
“You know it’s really frustrating the way people park their cars”, a neighbor remarked in Ditmas Park, home to endless movie shoots, and increasingly scarce parking.
Never mind folks in Kensington, Bensonhurst or Sheepshead Bay, where curb cuts and illegal driveways are adding to congestion and creating a shortage of parking spaces on the street. However, parking in front of illegal curb cuts may get your tires slashed.
Once in a while arguments get out of hand and someone is killed over a parking job, like a few months ago in Georgetown, or almost killed like in Brighton Beach a few years back (We’d like to suggest it really is not worth it!).
Many a thread on a neighborhood Facebook group pits neighbors against neighbors over whether it is ok to block a driveway even just a few inches. (Consensus – NEVER). But who has not been tempted when you encounter a situation like this?
#1. Don’t be a space hog.
Yes, we get it, you’ve got cousins coming in from out of town, but that is no excuse to park your car to take up two spots! Unless – when you parked there were two motorcycles parked on each side. So be nice, park like this:
#2. Use fixed objects when parking, not the car ahead/behind you.
If you park the front / back of your car to align with the driveway or parking sign, more cars of all sizes will get a chance to fit. Like here:
#3. Know the basics. Stop line is for driving, not parking.
#4. Strangely, Yes, you are allowed to park in curb cuts at some T-intersections. (Though why – beats us).
“The New York City Traffic rules allow parking at some “T” intersections—those without traffic signals, all-way stop signs or crosswalk markings—even if there is a curb cut at that location.” Also – its complicated and here is a bit more on this topic.
People have been fighting over saving spots seemingly forever. It gets worse in the winter, when you’ve spent the time shoveling a spot.
Please be considerate of your neighbors when you park.
Tony Gill created the graphics used above to illustrate his frustration with the issue. Used with permission.