Midwood Parking Rules Changed For Shabbos

MIDWOOD – At select locations in Midwood, alternate side parking has been eliminated on Saturday, so observant Jews won’t have to move their cars on Shabbos.

Councilmember David Greenfield, who has fought for parking changes since 2010, announced the change today in a statement. He said that the issue was important to him due to the scarcity of parking spaces in the neighborhood.

“Not only are there more observant Jews here than anywhere else in the world, but more people use cars here than almost anywhere else in New York City,” Greenfield said.

The change consists of white tape over what used to read “Saturday” on the old parking signs. There is no indication if street sweeping will stop on Saturday.

Earlier this year, Mayor de Blasio announced that in the future, 1,300 parking meters in Flatbush and Boro Park will accept pre-payment of up to four hours on Friday, so that observant Jews won’t have to feed the meters after Shabbos starts at sundown.

The blocks with changes to alternate side parking are:

• Avenue M, between Coney Island Ave and Ocean Ave
• Avenue J, between East 12th St and East 17th St
• Elm Avenue, between Bay Ave and 18th St and between 14th St and 15th St
• Coney Island Avenue, between Avenue I and Avenue K