An example of what my department is concerned with.
The SFDSP's mission is to raise awareness, in a somewhat light-hearted way, of a serious problem in San Francisco. Their garages cluttered, converted to in-law units (mostly illegally), or unable to hold their excessive number of cars (and given that city streets are already chock full with that unmistakable manifestation of the American Dream), many of our fellow San Franciscans seem to think it is in their right to park their private vehicles right onto the public sidewalk. Often this means that street trees and front gardens are removed and concreted over (both are illegal), to make place for vehicles to park on it (also illegal). This practice not only turns entire once-charming and attractive neighborhoods into blighted, ugly, and depressing seas of concrete, but it also endangers pedestrians, harms the environment, and runs counter to the city's professed goal to create walkable, sustainable communities. The city has long been reluctant about confronting this problem. While you can report sidewalk parking to the DPT anonymously at 415-553-1200 (and in most cases, they will come out and ticket), it is our view that the City should take a much more aggressive stance against this blight and be more vigilant on enforcing zoning and permit laws.
The Department will be posting some of the more instructive examples of sidewalk parking and sidewalk blight, as well as background analysis and information on the legalities of certain practices, the authorities' response and efforts, and how you can help fight sidewalk blight.
I encourage you to contribute to the Department's work. Send your pictures and submissions to me.
Yours truly,
Commissioner Concrete
Great site! Let's hope somebody does something about these people who have no regard for people who need to walk on those sidewalks.
ReplyDeleteAwesome website! You should have a page where one could upload images in REALTIME (Maybe Facebook or Twitter) that DPT could monitor and catch these selfish people in the act.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Commissioner, for providing this valuable public service and for broadcasting a message that needs to be heard and respected.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteHow can we post photos and videos? Is there someone out therre who is willing to help me transfer old fashion VHS into CDs and put them on the internet. Police, landlords tenants, DPT officers, DPT OFFICIALS, ALL ...
@Cameron, ever heard of seeclickfix?
ReplyDeleteAre you aware that most of the people that stumble upon your lame website have probably done so because they are googling something along the lines of "how to get out of a ticket for parking on the sidewalk in sf"? Get a new hobby.
ReplyDeleteSidewalk parking is wrong, but you cross the line when you rail about driveway parking. As long as your car doesn't hang over the sidewalk (i.e. your car is flush with your lawn or landscaping) you are legal.
ReplyDeleteWow I can't believe someone actually dedicated this much time to try and fight driveway parking. The creator of this site 'Concrete Commissioner' must either not be able to afford a car because he spends so much time maintaining this site OR so much money that he can afford a garage and therefore doesn't have to deal w/SF huge parking problem...also giving him plenty of time to make this lame web page;p ...Or...you are just so overweight (because you spend most of your time reading these silly comments) that it is so SO difficult to maneuver around these ILLEGALY parked cars...because if it illegal its wrong...? right? Get a life loser!
ReplyDeleteJust how much sidewalk do you need? those squares are 3'x3' Measure your hallway or for that matter the front door. Get a real job!
ReplyDeleteAnyone living in San Francisco knows how hard parking can be and it IS A HUGE SF issue. I feel that it's everyones' right to park their vehicles on their "driveway" as long as there is enough space for pedestrians/strollers/wheelchairs to pass by. Tell me, what are the EXACT measurements for it to be "legal" to park a vehicle in front of your home? Is it better to park it parallel to the curb? You tell me COMISSIONER OF CONCRETE.. get a life!
ReplyDeleteI park in my driveway and will continue to park in my driver Commissioner. Come find me, I challenge you - I have no problem donating money to our fine city =)
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how many driveways are in San Francisco? I'm doing a report on this and would like to know. Great site. Thanks!
ReplyDeletetake a picture, report, and ticket the illegal parking. Right On commissioner!
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of torn here. Parking on the sidewalk may be illegal but it's not wrong. I don't park on the sidewalk nor do I agree with how some people park on the sidewalk (some I feel are ok so long as they're not blocking the majority of the sidewalk) but at the same time, I hate the fact that this site exists. This is a site created by a self righteous douchebag. Yes Commissioner Concrete, you are scum. You simply think you're better than everyone else.
ReplyDelete