How much nicer would this street look without these cars parked on the sidewalk? How much more inviting would it be for people to take a walk, if the sidewalk would have some nice gardens in the front, a row of trees and maybe a bench or two? But no dice with these motorists.
8 comments:
I personally do not own a car, but I do understand the motives for some of these "parkers". For example, in the "more driveway parkers" photo, they do probably know it would be more attractive to have a garden filled front yard. Unfortunately parking's a B****, and if it is more convenient for them to park in their own driveway, without blocking the sidewalk, then so be it.
Unlike you, I do own a car. You know where I keep it? In the GARAGE. That magical place all of these driveways actually lead to. I guess owning more cars than we or this city can handle, or cluttering up our garage / renting it out so we can make our car or mortgage payments is not the bitch. It's not our fault at all, it's the city's fault for failing to allocate an adequate portion of the public space to accommodate our personal convenience and motoring needs. And because of this we feel entitled it's only our natural right to store our property right in the public right of way.
Who cares, people are just being bitter that don't have a driveway to park in. Besides, as long as it isn't totally blowing the sideway, then It should be fine.
The goal should be to use the garage. I figure that part of the "driveway" is city property and part legally required setback. Commonly, the "sidewalk" covers only part of the actual city property: the sidewalk is 7' wide but the city property is 12' wide and 5' of the "driveway is actually on the "sidewalk. There are variations: 15' of city sidewalk right-of-way with a sidewalk with 10'6" of concrete (the sidewalk) and 4'6" of flowerbed (or concrete). Regardless, we'd be better off if folks parked in their garages. Think driveway as right to access and egress, not as a parking space.
Aren't you all ignoring the fact that many "garages" were converted to bedrooms and living spaces long ago? Your self-righteousness is a luxury--not everyone in this city can afford single-family homes with street-level garages.
I rent a Victorian in Glen Park and was recently ticketed for parking in my driveway, recessed more than six feet from the curb--a parking spot that was advertised and included in my rental agreement. It may look to a passerby like my driveway leads to a garage, but that garage was sealed off and finished to make a third bedroom for the downstairs apartment over thirty years ago. I'm a pro-bike, pro-transit commuter with a 50+ mpg hybrid that I share with another person, always carpooling when I do actually use the vehicle, so don't accuse me of being another gas-guzzling, auto-dependent ugly American.
Why is going into a property ownership discussion? The law says you can't park on sidewalk. The rest several feet, "public use" or easement, whatever you call it,is not sidewalk. And it's not in the scope of parking regulations.
The reason why more and more people are parking on sidewalks is because Asians who have come to this country are converting "Single Family Homes" into multi family buildings without a permit. They hire their own kind to do the construction and they do it on weekends because they know that the building inspection department is closed on weekends. If you have a large family go live somewhere that already has alot of parking space...or just use the best damn bus service in the United States, it's the San Francisco Municipal Railway.
FYI- the SFMTA is THE WORST bus service in the United States. I don't care what you say... I've been taking it for over 20 years and it has only gotten worse. If the car parked in the driveway isn't in anyone's way, then leave it alone. Some families own more than one car but it's difficult to find parking on the street in certain areas. Most people use their garage for their car, but if you have one more, then park it in the driveway. Why would you have to park blocks away when you can park it right in front of your house? It's safer that way! If it blocks the sidewalk where people walk, then yes, I agree it's not a good idea. But damn, leave these people alone. Most of you must not be from SF otherwise you'd understand.
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